41. Man Proposes—
Gu Masters Nurture, Use, and Refine the Gu. There are instances where Lo Jik feels small, like other Gu Masters, when he realizes new things about the Gu he’s possessed for some time now.
Lo Jik believed that the Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus could not be more outstanding than it already is. After all, it produces 50 Primeval Stones daily AND 30% Peak Stage Rank 3 Essence three times a day. How can nobody desire such a Gu when its feeding is as effortless as breathing? However, a few days ago, Lo Jik realized he was only scratching the surface of its usefulness!
The Lotus Gu deserves its Legendary reputation. Lo Jik would have never realized another use of the Gu if not for fantasizing things and thinking out of the box.
It was like any other day. Wolf Tides raged, and the Gu Masters fought bloody. Lo Jik was one of them. He fought with all he had (not). His prestige and contributions to the clan allowed him more freedom. However, he stuck to the battlefield by his wife’s side, who used three shadowy creatures to distract her opponents before killing them—the Rank 3 Multi-Shadow Beast Gu.
She isn’t the only one that grew. Since she needed to enter closed-door cultivation to refine the Gu, Lo Jik used the chance to refine the Blood Jade Change Gu. It meant he lost the White Jade Gu. However, he didn’t fear the wolves. He wisely chose his opponents and only ever dealt with weakened Bold Lightning Wolves, snatching the Gu Worms from their bodies after locating them through the Heaven Piercing Eye Gu.
He intended to exchange the Gu for more Primeval Stones. Yes. More!
Because he predicted another use of the Lotus Gu during the battle. That’s the beauty of inspiration—it strikes at the strangest moment. That night, Lo Jik returned to his former cabin and layered his floor with thousands of Primeval Stones.
His thought process was simple.
The Lotus Gu releases Primeval Essence. Can it temporarily store it?
Under Lo Jik’s anticipative gaze, the floating Lotus Gu devoured thousands of Stones in a breath!
Success!
Why?
What’s the difference between Lo Jik devouring the essence and the Lotus doing the same?
Time!
You see…
The saying that one’s cultivation soaring with enough resources holds true at every Cultivation stage. The only difference is how long it takes for one’s cultivation to ‘Soar!’
As a rank 3 Gu Master, Lo J refined about three and a half primeval stones for a portion of Light-Silver Essence. It means he refined over 223 stones for 69% of his Essence. All this takes time. However, he could temporarily store the Essence into the Lotus Gu, constantly nurturing his walls without a break!
However, the window between Lotus consuming the essence for itself and providing for Lo Jik is slim.
It didn’t matter. Lo Jik’s cultivation sped off the charts after realizing this use. He could feed the Lotus over 200 stones at a time after exhausting his essence and resume his cultivation without losing over 20 minutes! Such shocking speed also saw Lo Jik burning through his Primeval Stones in days. He cultivated for 4 hours every night. Mo Yan was the same. Their intimacy did not diminish because of their duties because they realized it was temporary. This allowed Lo Jik to focus on himself.
It’s already the middle of September, almost two weeks after the first ‘Big’ tide, and he feels his progress is about 20% more than usual. It would be more if he didn’t have the Wolf Tide to worry about. Lo Jik isn’t fighting because of his reputation. But there’s a direct order from the Clan Leader compelling every Able-bodied Gu Master to fight. Those who tried crippling themselves got healed enough to move and were sent to the battlefield, too!
Still, Lo Jik felt on top of the world. The Lotus Gu’s assistance to Cultivation is unimaginable! He worried the Gu Worm’s effectiveness would fall short once he advanced to Rank 4. However, this use allows the Rank 3 Lotus Gu to retain its use no matter Lo Jik’s rank!
So, their lives continued.
Lo Jik already had Rank 3 Movement, Defense/Offense, and Healing Gu. The Heaven Piercing Eye didn’t need advancement on short notice and proved as effective as many Rank 3 recon Gu. His body was refined, and it could display his strength without hurting himself. Also, other Rank 2 Gu, like the Blood Rousing Incense and the Battle Instinct Gu, raised his combat strength by another level. Adding the Three Tasks at Once further multiplied his strength.
He believed he surpassed Mo Yan, Chi Shan, and Fang Zheng. Men like Qing Shu and Fang Yuan are wildcards. The former could compete with Bai Ning Bing, and the latter must have some fortuitous encounters, allowing him to reach Rank 3.
What mattered was that Lo Jik did not need to refine any other Rank 3 Gu and focused on his cultivation.
Lo Jik gave the Lightning Thoughts Gu to Mo Yan to reduce his cost and invest in cultivation. He could sell it. However, he planned to encourage Mo Yan to travel with him. So, he wanted Mo Yan to be safe. He did all he could, and the rest depends on fate. Instead, Lo Jik used the chaos of Wolf Tide to buy medicine, rice, and other staple products from a few surviving vendors. He also exchanged loads of food for his Gu. Since he had several Gu that didn’t need specialized feed, the costs for 6 months of supply didn’t amount to more than a few thousand. Of course, all this went inside Lo Jik’s Earth Hole Gu. He wouldn’t use the Food stored in the Gu but buy more for his current needs.
It will naturally raise suspicions.
However, Lo Jik wouldn’t get a better time.
A Gu Master leaving the village is not uncommon. However, it is frowned upon by the Elders. Lo Jik was too brilliant. He represented a generation of new pawns for the Elders—like Qing Shu before him. Why would they want such a useable talent to leave? Lo Jik had no delusions that he could exit peacefully. Others would use ‘righteousness’ and the Clan’s system to detain him. They might forcefully strip him of his means to leave the village, which will extend to a confrontation!
His Blood Torrent Python Gu is his best bet in that regard.
Of course, things would be different if he displayed Rank 3 Cultivation. However, it would be similar to putting a fire out in one region only for a bomb to explode in another. The time wasn’t right for Lo Jik to advance his first Aperture into Rank 3.
Days fly by as the Gu Yue Clan’s losses accumulate.
The once beautiful clan growing within Bamboo groves is broken and worn.
The losses shake the higher-up’s confidence about their survival, much less other Gu Masters.
However, all the survivors are hardened warriors. They are used to Wolf patterns. One side learns and adapts, and the other side attacks using its numbers.
The Gu Master holds off the Wolf Tide every time.
Unknowingly, it's already Autumn and the end of September. Not only did the Wolf Tide last longer than usual, but it was also fiercer!
<<<>>>
Fang Yuan sits in a dim cave. The soil in the cave glows red, slightly illuminating the phaseless wall ahead. Past the wall made from Moat Gu is the Gu Yue Clan’s Spirit Spring. Fang Yuan observes a Rank 3 Gu within the swirling water.
The blue-white lotus looks delicate and seems to phase between material and phantom form. One of its nine petals looks injured. If Lo Jik saw this Gu, he would realize it’s the same Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus Gu he received from his Trait!
‘Today is the day,’ Fang Yuan exhales sharply. ‘The Beast Tide today will be disastrous. Several Elders will lose their lives, including Gu Yue Chi Lian. I used that man these few weeks. Chi Cheng died, severely affecting the Chi Faction. My knowledge of Chi Cheng cheating isn’t useless. Instead, Chi Lian could not risk the leak because I knew the Gu Worms he used on Chi Cheng to muddy the results. As expected, Chi Lian was fierce in his negotiations. However, he caved. I extorted Primeval Stones and a few Gu worms.’
‘I spent a lot of time these days to tackle the Divine Investigator’s issue. I finalized my plan after finding the Rank 2 Aura Shoot Gu.’
‘The Flower Monk Wine hated the Gu Yue Clan. The purpose of the Inheritance is to destroy the Clan. The Clan’s foundation and the Spirit Spring will be exhausted once I refine and take the Gu. The Clan will chase me to the Earth’s end with nothing to lose. Not only that, but the Divine Investigator will arrive shortly. He will effortlessly find and capture me. I can’t do anything to a Rank 5 Gu Master.’
‘My options are limited.’
Fang Yuan quietly retrieves an arrow-headed Gu. It’s rustic brown and looks ancient.
Rank 2 Aura Shoot Gu.
Fang Yuan next retrieves a rare Rank 2 Distant Will Gu. This Gu is shaped like a green disk.
‘Go!’
The two Gu turn into brilliant light before entering the light wall and nearing the Heavenly Lotus Gu. At Fang Yuan’s command, the Aura Shoot Gu releases a soft but ancient presence. The Lotus Gu trembles, feeling weak. It closes its flower bud.
‘Now!’
The Green disk releases Fang Yuan’s will, similar to a curtain of Green Light.
Fang Yuan instantly feels a connection with the Heavenly Lotus Gu.
However, the Aura Shoot Gu breaks apart and turns into dust. One should never contaminate the Spirit Spring. But Fang Yuan doesn’t give a damn. However, the green disk returns to Fang Yuan.
Although the act seems simple, the timing must be perfect!
‘I successfully refined the Rank 3 Lotus Gu. I stored Spring Autumn Cicada’s aura in the Aura Shoot Gu. I used it to suppress the Lotus’s willpower before using the Rank 2 Distant Will Gu, refining it myself. However, the Aura Shoot Gu could not bear the pressure of a Rank 6 Gu’s aura and broke apart after one use.’
It’s an acceptable loss.
Fang Yuan soon uses the Rank 3 Tusita Flower Gu to release his collected Primeval Stones. He quietly feeds the Lotus until it's fully repaired!
But his work isn’t finished.
‘The Divine Investigator will mark me with a Shared Sense Gu. I cannot return to this sight and take the Lotus Gu. However, it’s already mine. Hehe, this opens more options for me.’
Fang Yuan takes out a small purple Gu.
It’s the Rank 1 Son Flee Gu.
He uses the Gu as it turns into purple light and covers the Lotus Gu. The purple light flashes for a few seconds before disappearing.
‘Rank 1 Mother’s Embrace and Son Flee are expendable Gu. Anything marked with Son Flee will return to Mother’s Embrace. The farther the distance, the more essence consumed. I must leave the Lotus Gu for now. I’ve done everything. Let’s see how this life plays out.’
*Awwwoooooooo*
A long, majestic howl echoes in the underground inheritance site as Fang Yuan closes his eyes.
‘I spent a long time healing the Gu. The Wolf Tide is already underway. I followed the Elders chasing after the wolf back then. It led me to another skirmish with Bai Ning Bing before the Lycan arrived. There is no need to make the same mistakes twice. I should return and assist against the Wolf Tide. Since there are several new Elders, the one charging the Myriad Beast King must be the Older Generation with better teamwork.’
He recuperates for a while before leaving the cavern.
<<<>>>
Hours Ago.
“Are you alright?” Lo Jik questions as he eats alongside Mo Yan. They are in one of the Bamboo Buildings used for mess. Mo Yan’s status as an Elder allows her to book a private room as mortals hurriedly serve the food to tired and injured Gu Masters.
Mo Yan is slightly distressed after the recent events. Her Grandfather got injured two days ago. It’s a severe injury, and he barely pulled through.
“I am,” Mo Yan sighs softly. She sips her soup before muttering, “Other Elders in the Internal Affairs Hall were asking about you.”
“Me?” Lo Jik blinks in surprise despite knowing what it’s about. She looks at him, questioning concisely.
“Are you planning on leaving the Clan?”
Lo Jik opens his mouth slightly before closing it. He lowers his gaze.
“Jik?” Mo Yan’s voice trembles as Lo Jik whispers. “I don’t think there is a way for me to advance within the Clan, Yan. I want to test my luck outside—”
“You will die!” Mo Yan hisses. “You need Rank 3 cultivation! How can you decide such things without telling me?!”
Lo Jik chuckles as he sits back. “I need Rank 3 cultivation to explore the wilderness. However, I have to explore the Wilderness to find a way to advance to Rank 3. What can I do except test my luck?” He doesn’t let Mo Yan speak, adding, “I won’t ask you to follow me. What about your family? You’re different from me, Yan. You have so many people here who look up to you. And me? I only have you.”
Mo Yan’s body trembles as Lo Jik whispers. “I will return once I find my fortunes, dear. Don’t be sad.”
“What if you don’t?” Mo Yan grunts, tears forming in her eyes. “You can’t leave me alone! I won’t let you!”
Lo Jik gently smiles as he holds her hands. “I’m not. Besides, I’m not leaving right away, am I? I want to see you safe until the Wolf Tide ends. Only then can I leave.”
“No,” she sobs. “I will come—”
“No!” Lo Jik firmly asserts. “I can’t drag you down with me.”
She chews her lips in frustration.
“Don’t cry,” Lo Jik whispers, wiping her tears away. “Come on. We shouldn’t be focusing on this for now. Let’s discuss it later.”
He kisses her forehead as she nods. Determination flickers in her eyes as Lo Jik smiles.
Loud sirens blare before they can speak further. The duo’s expression changes as Mo Yan hurriedly wipes her tears and leaves the room with Lo Jik. They leave the Bamboo Building and climb the nearby tower to see a sea of wolves emerging from the surrounding forest.
‘It’s here.’
Everyone thinks the same thing.
The deadliest Wolf Tide is here. Surviving it is of crucial importance!
Hundreds of Bold Lightning Wolves and several Frenzy Lightning Wolves move beside a hill-sized Lightning Wolf. It quietly sits, looking like a majestic sculpture before the dawn. Tufts of golden fur glimmer on his limbs and tail. Its elegance is further accentuated by tufts of fur extending as a crown on his head.
Myriad Beast King—Lightning Crown Wolf King, the beast that commands ten thousand wolves, a hundred bold lightning wolves, and ten Frenzy Lightning Wolf!
Even the Clan Leader steps out as the information hall Gu Masters move to every Elder.
“It’s the Clan Leader’s command for the Battle Elders to protect the gate at any cost.”
Mo Yan nods as Lo Jik squeezes her hand reassuringly.
The decisive battle is here.
<<<>>>
Lo Jik calmly grabs a Lightning Wolf before using it to sweep other wolves off the wall. He tosses the wolf and flicks his wrist. Instead of the broken wolf, the moonblade suddenly hits a Bold Lightning Wolf to the left. It leaves a gash on its right leg, successfully killing the healing Gu hidden within the fur.
The Bold Lightning Wolf quickly dies as Lo Jik doesn’t glance in that direction. With so many moon blades flying around, others never imagined it was Lo Jik who killed the Wolf’s Gu. He quickly glances at the situation ahead. All sorts of light and attack Gu confront the Lightning Crown Wolf. Such a battle is not something Lo Jik can participate in. After all, it takes one Clan Leader and 10 Elders to hold the beast at bay.
Suddenly, a massive Purple Moonblade the size of a horse cart attacks the Lightning Crown Wolf. In response, a lightning armor appears around the wolf.
*Boom*
A majestic blue and alluring violet explodes as Lo Jik feels the impact on the wall. The blinding light makes others squint. However, Lo Jik uses his Eye Gu under his eyelid, quickly attacking four different Bold Lightning Wolves to reduce the strain on the Eastern Wall. These wolves are near a Frenzy Lightning Wolf that Mo Yan and three other Elders are holding back.
The light quickly flashes away as the Lightning Wolf’s assault momentarily weakens. After all, their eyesight is their advantage! Their sensitive eyes tear up as they whine loudly.
The Gu Masters won’t leave such a weak spot.
As the Elders successfully kill the Frenzy Lightning Wolf, Lo Jik observes a Gu Master hurrying to the three Elders and informing something.
They nod and quickly leave. Mo Yan glances at Lo Jik, nodding before following other Elders.
These three aren’t alone. Other Elders, including Qing Shu and Chi Shan, leave their posts after dealing with their respective wolves, reinforcing the Clan Leader.
The battle rages for almost 20 minutes when the Myriad Wolf howls loudly. He tears a path past the Elders, severely injuring several Gu Masters. However, the Clan Leader successfully binds it before retreating into the Village Square.
‘Oh?’ Lo Jik frowns. ‘I only heard about this from Mo Yan. The Clan does have a life-saving measure.’
*Buzz* *Buzz* *Buzz*
Lo Jik’s expression changes as he suddenly jumps from the wall, letting another Gu Master take his position. He gazes at the sky as the dark clouds part, revealing a group of Blood-red insects descending upon the Gu Yue Village. The insects look like ferocious locusts!
‘It’s really the Blood Guillotine!’ Lo Jik’s heart thrums. ‘A Gu Master feeds and uses the Gu at once. It consumes the heart blood of Gu Masters, using the Primeval Essence to rapidly multiply. This Rank 5 Gu is similar to a Blood Disaster. If the Clan can summon its use, they must have prepared some sacrifices.’
As expected, the small lump of insects turned into a massive cloud of death that entered the battle, consuming Lightning Wolves in the blink of an eye. Other Gu Masters stop as these worms don’t attack them.
The Blood Guillotine does not multiply after feeding on the wolves since they need the Primeval Energy of one’s heart blood. The Gu Masters, stupefied, watch the blood fog of death and buzzing insects surround the Lightning Crown Wolf! The Myriad Wolf howls, prompting the Gu on its body to attack the Blood Gu.
The lightning chars thousands of the Blood Gu as their number thin from a bloody fog to a small tornado. However, hundreds of Blood Guillotine already feast on the Myriad Wolf’s body. It howls, showering itself with liquified plasma to deal with the locust Gu. However, it also injured itself, cooking its flesh.
Under the Gu Master’s surprised gazes, the Myriad Wolf escapes!
Already killed to such an extent, the other wolves quickly run away, too.
They won!
All the Gu Masters watch with complicated emotions.
They won… but at what cost?
Unwilling to let the Myriad Wolf escape since it will recover and attack the village with greater hatred, Gu Yue Bo leads a team of Elders after the Wolf. Meanwhile, others assist in cleaning up the battlefield.
Hundreds of survivors mourned the loss of their loved ones—including Lo Jik.
He quietly stepped into one of the craters, hugging a mangled corpse in his arms.
‘Damn,’ He sighs. ‘We never even got to bid farewell, Yan.’
He didn’t think much of Shen Cui. But he valued Mo Yan. He didn’t love her, that he knew. The only woman he came close to loving didn’t exist in this world. So, how can Lo Jik understand what love is? He only knows the trait one exhibits when in love.
“A-Ah, Lord Lo Jik! We are sorry for your loss. But please let the Internal Affairs Hall and the Medicine Hall note the losses. We will bring Elder Mo Yan’s inheritance—”
“Do what you need to do,” Lo Jik sits down cross-legged, gently brushing Mo Yan’s muddied hair away. The act reveals her half-chewed face as he smiles sadly. “But I’ll be by her side for now.”
The afternoon sun shines on the couple, leaving a hauntingly beautiful image in the female Gu Master’s mind. Lo Jik may never know when the acting stops and the truth emerges. However, a mere bystander seems to see a whole lot more.
Unfortunately, Lo Jik isn’t destined to converse with the woman as she quietly extracts the Gu Worms in Mo Yan’s aperture. She doesn’t move the corpse and instead relays when to bring the body to the Funeral site as Lo Jik nods.
Just then—
*—ouuuuuuuuuuuuu*
A terrifying wolf howl echoes in the distance.
“T-The Lightning Crown Wolf!” The Female Gu Master gasps.
*Tuc*
*Tuc*
Lo Jik doesn’t move. Instead, he looks at the duo emerging from the Eastern Gate. They wear bronze masks and neat steel-grey uniforms. A purple belt graces the tall man, while the woman wears a white belt.
Rank 3 and Rank 5!
“Please get inside the gates, Juniors. I shall check the situation,” The Rank 5 expert speaks in a clear, deep voice.
He gazes at the gently smiling Lo Jik, who slowly stands without letting Mo Yan’s corpse go.
“My condolences, Little Brother,” The man whispers gently before leaving with the girl, who casts another look at Lo Jik.
“Let’s go,” Lo Jik mutters as the female Gu Master snaps out of her reveries. “Y-Yes!”
***
Alternate Title: A Legendary Gu Indeed; Inspiration Strikes Even When Shitting; Massive Boost in Cultivation; Nearing Goals; Attracting Attention; No Other Way; Plans; Healing The Lotus; Marked; Shrewd; Thinking of Several Possibilities; The Massive Tide; Myriad Wolf King; 10000!; The Clan Leader Strikes; Sharp Combat Instincts; Cultivating at a Heaven Defying Pace; The Lure; Possessive Love; A Tearful Mo Yan; The Discussion That Never Was; Severe Losses; Called Away; Last Glance; Blood Guillotine; Survival; Lost Wolf; The Chase; Victory; Cost; The Crater; Goodbye; What is Love?; A Bystander’s Truth; Always Broken Inside; The Mask Fractures Unknowingly; The Rank 5 Expert?; —Heaven Disposes