61. In The World of Pure Imagination♫(1)
A breathtaking girl stares at the cup of steaming tea with a blank expression.
She is Zhang… Shang Xin Ci.
Xin Ci heard about things from Xiao Die and felt lost. So, Shang Clan’s Leader is the man who hurt her mother. Her heart bears pain, pity, a surprising hatred, and vast emptiness. However, hatred achieves nothing but grief. Xin Ci lets go of it the instant it's born.
Her mother was not a fool. She was kind, caring, and compassionate. Xin Ci accepts her mother’s choice of Yan Fei. After all, Xin Ci doesn’t know everything about her parents. Their circumstances are not for her to judge.
‘Shang Clan and Zhang Clan have been enemies for generations. That’s why Mother never revealed who my father is.’
Xin Ci sighs. Xiao Die quietly stands beside Xin Ci.
“May I come in, Ci’er?”
A deep, attractive voice follows the knock on the door. Xiao Die reveals a nervous expression while Xin Ci voices her assent. Although she doesn’t want to face the situation, running from it is foolishness.
Shang Yan Fei enters the room. Xin Ci’s gaze trembles as she stands up, greeting the man. Although Xin Ci let go of the hatred in her heart, a girl can retain her pettiness. She keeps a distance between them, bowing deeply.
“This junior greets the Esteemed Clan Leader Shang.”
Shang Yan Fei reveals a sad smile. Xin Ci’s dry tone and indifferent expressions are like a dagger in his heart. He already confirmed through his subordinate that Xin Ci isn’t possessed. Her soul is untouched, and her mind is free. This girl IS his daughter.
THEIR daughter.
Xiao Die bows deeply, too.
“How are you feeling, Ci’er?” Yan Fei questions gently.
“I’m healthy, Sir. I’m honored by your concern. This Junior can hear and see well. I merely lost consciousness due to our intense journey. But I’m glad. I fulfilled my Mother’s last wish and am free.”
Shang Yan Fei’s heart aches at the confirmation. There are several reasons why he could not marry Xin Ci’s mother.
“Will you not sit?” Yan Fei smiles.
“As you command, Clan Leader.”
Xin Ci sits.
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
Xin Ci’s words are soft, but she’s intelligent. Each syllable spoken through her soft lips is tactically inclined to cause emotional distress.
If it was before surviving in the woods, Xiao Die would be pouring her heart out, asking the Shang Clan Leader to seek justice for her missy for all the discrimination she faced. However, she knows better.
It’s not her place to speak. Xin Ci is wiser than her. If Missy wants to stay quiet, she will, too.
As Xiao Die pours tea for Shang Yan Fei, he casually smiles and questions. “Tell me. How were your past few years?”
“They were the best years of my life, Clan Leader. Heaven blessed me with a loving mother who never let me feel the need for a father. She raised me to be self-sufficient.”
Yan Fei can read through the lines. However, he cannot let Xin Ci go.
Yan Fei wants to amend his mistakes. The Shang Clan Leader wants to give everything he can to the daughter he disappointed the most.
“I see. I’m glad,” Yan Fei reveals a gentle look. “Your mother was beautiful. But it was her heart that attracted me the most. Did she tell you how we met?”
“I’m afraid not,” Xin Ci shakes her head.
He nods. Instead of revealing tales of the past, he changes the topic. “The distance from Zhang Clan is risky. How did you prepare for such a journey.”
“I was only left with one path,” Xin Ci smiles gently. “Clan Leader might know. But living a Bastard’s life has its own pleasures. It forces us into risks or living under mockery. It’s the best tonic to build a character.”
Yan Fei’s body slightly trembles. He calmly sips his tea while unable to meet his daughter’s gaze.
The Clan Leader swiftly recovers his composure and sighs.
“You’re your mother’s daughter,” he chuckles bitterly. He finishes the tea. “I know you don’t wish to see me. But you only arrived here. The Shang Clan is vast, and it's easy to get lost. I will send a servant over to show you around. I hope you stay, Ci’er. I won’t be able to face your mother after my death if I fail our daughter, too.”
Xin Ci slightly lowers her head. She instantly feels guilty about her past remarks.
“Believe me,” Yan Fei offers a warm smile. “Your Mother possessed a vocabulary capable of instantly destroying and rebuilding. I don’t mind your anger, dear. You two should rest.”
He leaves the room. As Yan Fei closes the door, his gaze reveals a cold light. The Clan Leader purses his lips before walking the illuminated halls and speaking to a brown-haired woman.
“Serve your young miss well, Tian Lan. Also, find out how Ci’er arrived at Shang Clan. The duo won’t immediately trust you. But I want to know who helped them.”
“This subordinate understands.”
The girl nods and leaves.
Although he plans to not disappoint his daughter, he must also investigate the situation. Xin Ci and Xiao Die must have had assistance from Gu Masters during the journey. Shang Yan Fei must know the third party’s intention before deciding if they deserve a reward or cruel punishment.
He is an inherently cruel man.
Shang Yan Fei once forced two of his brothers and sister to commit suicide. Once he took over, the Clan’s caravan grew by three times! His ruthless and ambitious personality allowed him to create a massive force of 100 Clans as Shang Clan’s vassals. The Clans on the hills near Shang Liang Mountain are the ones he lets others witness.
There are legends of his determined nature.
A Clan attacked Shang Clan’s caravan when Shang Yan Fei took over. He ignored all internal opposition and expended several resources to exterminate that Clan! He beheaded everyone who surrendered, mounting their heads on the opposing Elders’ properties! Everyone understood Shang Yan Fei’s nature.
Once he got the power, he decisively turned the Clan’s higher-ups into his voice, introducing External Elders and increasing the competition by reducing the Young Master’s position to 10 from the previous 15.
Yet, he touches his heart.
Xin Ci’s merely a young pepper. But her words cut deep.
Unexpectedly, Xin Ci and Xiao Die didn’t reveal anything useful to Tian Lan.
Instead, the External Elder Wei Yang returned with a report a few days later.
“A caravan?” Yan Fei stares outside his window. “You’re saying the Tie Clan’s expediting group saved the remnants of a Caravan from a Zombie Horde before killing the Demonic Gu Master and finding the Second Zombie King’s inheritance site. Who were they chasing?”
“They were chasing after one confirmed Demonic Gu Master and his unknown partner. His name is Gu Yue Lo Jik.”
“Gu Yue?”
It’s a rare surname. Shang Yan Fei files through his mountain before frowning, “Qing Mao Mountain. The Blood Tide.”
“Yes, Clan Leader. Tie No Ting’s team followed them from Qing Mao Mountain. The details are obscure. But the Divine Investigator died there. Also, the Caravan survivors identified Young Miss Xin Ci and Little Xiao Die. They said the Sibling Gu Masters, using Monkey Mask Gu, took the two under their wing for Miss Xin Ci’s business talent. I’ve already taken them away from the Tie Clan’s team despite the latter’s reluctance under the promise of compensation for their rewards.”
Shang Yan Fei nods, pleased with Wei Yang’s performance.
“Search for anyone selling Bone Path Gu,” Yan Fei looks at Wei Yang before stopping. The Clan Leader smiles. “You already found the identities of the Brother-Sister Monkey pair, didn’t you? Tell me, does it have anything to do with the Gu Masters Tie No Ting is chasing?”
Wei Yang nods quietly, revealing a grave look.
“It’s Gu Yue Lo Jik and Bai Ning Bing, Sir. But there are three survivors. I know you’re looking for Blood Sea Ancestor’s Inheritances. This subordinate failed you. I still haven’t found Gu Yue Fang Yuan. However, I have another news. There is a fourth survivor held by the Tie Clan. He is Fang Yuan’s younger twin, Fang Zheng.”
“Blood Sea Ancestor’s topic can wait,” Shang Yan Fei dismisses Wei Yang’s concerns. “First, conclude your inspection of the Caravan’s survivors. Compensate them with twice the amount of goods they left their clans with. Your next task is to observe these two and understand their intentions.”
“Yes!”
Wei Yang leaves.
Yan Fei returns to his seat.
‘Even you died, Xue Leng?’
Yan Fei and Xue Leng are of the same generation, clashing on some rare occasions. Shang Yan Fei has a deep impression of Tie Xue Leng’s strength.
‘I already have the report of your injuries. Why did you risk your life before waiting for your Clan’s reinforcements? What compelled you to fight?’
Tie Xue Leng is just and intelligent.
It must have been something grave that devoured the Divine Investigator.
However, Lo Jik and Bai Ning Bing destroyed the mangled remains of the cause of the disaster.
Only they know the truth.
<<<>>>
It’s been a few days since Lo Jik and Bai Ning Bing entered the Third Inner City. They have been steadily unloading their goods. However, the Shopkeepers are beginning to get more ruthless.
‘It must be a Young Master.’ Lo Jik nods. He is inside a secret room. The Third Inner City does not have inns but private courtyards to rent. The duo rented one for themselves at the cost of 40 Stones daily!
The price is outrageous. However, Lo Jik can cover his share without issues now that he can use the Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus to create 50 stones daily.
Lo Jik didn’t use this ability the entire journey to remain low-key.
Back to Young Masters.
Lo Jik has some understanding of the Clan’s system. That’s why he bought the rulebook.
‘There are Ten Young Masters that control several businesses of the Clan. The Shang Clan is different from others. It focuses on business achievements and administration more than talent and combat prowess. Every year, the Young Clan Lord must face an assessment by the Clan Leader and Elders to retain his status. Meanwhile, the competition of the ten Young Masters sees the last ranking Young Master demoted for other children to vie for the position. I can’t even sell the Seven-Lights Lance Gu for the appropriate price. However, I’ve already sold plenty.’
‘It’s not strange we attracted a Young Master’s gaze. Other Shopkeepers questioned me and Bai Ning Bing about the inheritance. But we refused. I’m glad we did it. I unintentionally found that every shop has a limit of 500000 Stones for a single item. The Inheritance should be worth a lot more than that. So, if I can’t sell the Seven-Lights Lance Gu for 280000, we won’t be able to sell the inheritance for more than 500000.’
One must never look down on the recipes.
Selling 1000 Rank 1 Bone Spears earned them more than 300000 Stones! Shang Clan can profit millions with the recipes. Of course, they must spend time to refine the Gu. So, in Lo Jik’s estimation, the recipe for every Gu except the Bone Flesh Unity Gu should be around 600000-800000!
How can they stomach a loss of more than 200000 by selling it for cheap?
By now, Lo Jik has sold almost all his gains, including the Monkey Mask, his Bone Gu, the useless Red Steel Relic Gu, the Emotion Path Gu, other Rank 4 Gu aside from Seven-Lights Lance and Rainbow Mist, other Beast Flesh and materials—most of the things except the Healing and Blood Gu from his gains.
And…
He has a lot of wealth!
Even after deducting the cost of purchasing another Primeval Elder Gu and paying Ning Bing’s due of 15800 Stones, Lo Jik possesses a mind-boggling sum of 1,383,240 Primeval Stones!
But his gains don’t end here.
He’s been waiting to summon his rewards for months! Only the realization that he may not have the resources to nurture a Rare Gu stopped him.
He has two Silver Rewards and six Golden ones!
‘Let’s see,’ Lo Jik shortly meditates to calm himself. His first two Golden Achievements allowed his aperture’s limit to rise and learn more about the Blood Gu. If he can refine the Blood Sull Gu into Rank 5, he only needs to kill one blood-related person to reach the Aptitude of 99%! This Gu is miraculous and can allow others to achieve an Extreme Physique. However, Lo Jik has no interest in the latter.
Of course, things will be different if he finds a way to not die as a possessor of Extreme Physique.
He exhales and opens his eyes before covering himself in a blanket. Although he inspected the secret room, Lo Jik cannot guarantee 100% privacy. This is the Shang Clan! Who knows what’s possible here. But this location is also the best chance to summon his rewards.
‘I should refine the Earth Piercing Eye Gu as swiftly as possible.’
He affirms this notion. The Heaven Piercing Eye Gu has a weakness of being unable to look past the Earth Qi. The Earth Piercing Eye Gu deals with that weakness.
‘Let’s start.’
He summons the first Silver Reward.
A gentle light blooms in his blanket before forming a Rank 3 Gu.
Unexpectedly, it’s not a Relic Gu.
Lo Jik gazes at the Rank 1 Determined Fist Gu holding something in its clenched fists. His gaze brightens as he opens the index finger. The Gu Worm turns into dust, revealing a Rank 3 Gu! Lo Jik stares at the Gu, feeling doubtful.
The Gu comes in every shape and size. This Gu is actually increasing in size! Soon, Lo Jik holds a shriveled ‘head.’ The scattered black hair is dry and unkempt. The skin of the face is pale, and the cheeks are sunken. The thin lips press together, and the sharp nose feels drooping. However, Lo Jik meets the Gu Worm’s ‘eyes.’ It possesses human-like eyes. They are fierce and glint green.
‘That’s a Rank 3 Little Giant Gu.’
Lo Jik’s body shudders.
Strength Path is deep and immersive. Like the Ice Path, which has Frost Demon Gu, capable of increasing the effects of Ice Path Gu, the Strength Path has its transformation Gu, too!
Lo Jik recalls this famous Gu Worm’s explanation, understanding why he might have gotten this Gu.
‘Skin thicker than beast hides, bones tougher than iron, and muscles incomparable to the tautness of steel—the Little Giant sweeps. This is a famous passage to praise the Little Giant Gu. Unlike the Zombie Gu, Frost Demon Gu, and Wood Charm Gu, the Little Giant Gu does not permanently turn the user into said Gu Worm’s transformation. Instead, using this Gu without a stable foundation results in extreme pressure on the body, breaking the user from the inside.’
‘However, I have Thick Skin, Tough Bones, and Pink Muscles. I will soon refine noble organs, too. Not only can I support the use of this transformation, I can reveal its full potential with enough practice! It is strength and defense at once. This Transformation Gu will only increase my benefits, and my body won’t tear open once I attack with the strength of ten beasts!’
Lo Jik sends this Gu inside the Second Aperture. He will need to purchase food for it.
He opens the second Silver Reward.
He watches another Rank 3 Gu materialize.
It’s a Grass Gu shaped like a brown rose. The petals of the rose look dirty and unpleasant. One sniff at it will make others cover their nose. But Lo Jik’s expression turns into a daze.
‘That’s not a Strength Gu.’
Like how Mo Yan and Shen Cui’s rewards often gave him Blood Gu, the Strength Path Gu Master Bai Lin’s reward surprisingly gave him a Refinement Gu.
Refinement is a broad subject. Every Gu Master unintentionally walks on the Refinement Path. However, there are special Gu in this world that assist in the fusion of Gu Worms and refining a Wild Gu.
For instance, the Rank 4 Kindling Will Gu.
Lo Jik didn’t sell it.
That Gu is too good!
So is this Rank 3 Filthy Powder Rose Gu.
This Gu Worm’s petals are powdered with a strange material that boosts the chances of successful fusion as long as one doesn’t unnecessarily deviate from the recipe. Rank 1 Gu Fusion receives a 50% boost, 25% for Rank 2 Gu Fusion, 5% for Rank 3 Gu Fusion, 2.5% for Rank 4 Gu Fusion, and 1% for Rank 5 Gu Fusion.
Unlike the Little Giant Gu, this Grass Gu is healthy. Lo Jik gently places it inside the aperture.
‘The rewards are amazing this time. Or rather, focusing on a path allows me better chances to get relevant Gu. Let’s continue with the Golden ones.’
He doesn’t wait and gets on with it.
The light blooms brighter before revealing another Rank 1 Determined Fist Gu.
‘I must be tapping into an unknown Strength Path inheritance for a while now.’ His expectations grow. Could he get a Strength Immortal’s Inheritance? The secret recipes of Strength Path will ease his situation. For instance, he doesn’t have the recipe to fuse the Rank 3 Little Giant into the Rank 4 Little Giant King and the Rank 5 Little Giant Emperor.
He opens the Determined Fist Gu, revealing a Rank 4 Aura.
Lo Jik’s expression shifts as he stares at the Gu.
Oh, he hit GOLD.
<<<>>>
“Young Master is amazing,” the Shopkeeper kneels and praises.
Shang Ya Zi’s cold expression ripples within the bronze mirror as he addresses, “The Clan already had these Gu Master’s information. These two duped the Bai Clan that recently transitioned to the Bai Gu Mountain. The Bai Clan found an entirely exhausted Inheritance site! These two are lying devils. They must have the fusion recipes. But just pressuring them isn’t enough. I will be in trouble if I’m found pressuring prospective customers into lowering the prices. Heh! Do as I command. Conduct business with them the next time and make them stay. Inform me of their arrival. The Tie Clan is pursuing Lo Jik. I will provide Lo Jik’s information to Tie No Ting. The Tie Fools won’t be able to sit still and would confront Lo Jik. That will rattle these two Demonic Gu Masters. They would want more resources. I will purchase the Inheritance for a low price then.”
The shopkeeper nods with an enlightened expression.
She soon reveals her worries.
“Sir, won’t it attract their ire if we’re found? Those two are Peak Stage Rank 3 Gu Masters.”
“They must have gained a lot from Grey Bone’s inheritance,” Shang Ya Zi grits his teeth, envious. But his expression turns calm. “Don’t worry. One is wasting time with the Strength Path. These two are nothing.”
<<<>>>
Strength Path has a grave problem.
Even a fool understands the essence of Strength Path is to strike hard. However, humans are born weak compared to beasts. So, the Gu Masters started using Beast Strength Gu to adopt the Beast’s Strength. But a problem emerged. How can they recklessly increase their ‘output’ before balancing their foundations? Everybody is a sealed container with finite strength. Adding more strength without expanding the container might shatter it—killing the Gu Masters!
So? What was next? Making the Body Sturdy! The Beast Strength Gu only targeted one’s output, not everything.
The Body Refinement under the Strength Path emerged from this thinking.
But that wasn’t enough. The limitations of humans still haunted them. How can a human bite as fiercely as a crocodile or smack as ruthlessly as a bear? The problem isn’t output alone. Size, form, and other considerations must be kept in mind. So, the Gu Masters used transformation Gu like Bear Transformation and Crocodile Transformation Gu. This led to a new discovery.
Beast Phantoms.
Gu Masters discovered a point of optimal output where they can demonstrate 100% of a beast’s strength. When this occurs, the relevant beast’s phantom appears behind the Gu Master, mimicking their movement. Through this act of mimicking, the Gu Masters realized one must move similarly to beasts to display their full strength!
The Strength Path forever changed since this discovery.
Two Major factions rose.
One side didn’t want to rely on the beast’s movements. They are humans. Isn’t there a better way to use the Beast Phantoms? The Gu Masters thinking this eventually refined one of the legendary Gu for the Strength Path—All-Out Effort Gu! This Legendary Gu can use Beast Phantoms at will! Instead of Gu Masters going through the trouble of transforming parts of their bodies into beasts to reveal a Beast Phantom for a low chance, they could now move as humans and display a Beast’s strength!
Did you imagine someone with a bear’s striking force doing martial arts? Well. They didn’t have to imagine it. They DID it.
Strength Path flourished. The invention of All-Out Effort Gu attracted great minds to create more Strength Path Gu to cover other basic needs like defense, movement, healing, and even investigation.
But there was another faction of Strength Path. They gave up on Beast Strength.
In essence, to use Beast Strength is to TAKE a Beast’s Output and paste it oneself.
So, wasn’t it better to think broadly? Why limit to Beasts?
The Gu Masters turned their gazes to the Sky, Ground, Wind, and other elements.
Aren’t the Elements Powerful?
Could they wield an Element’s Power?
Where does the limit end?
So, another legendary Gu emerged, no less crucial than the All-Out Effort Gu—Borrow Strength Gu! A Gu Master could use this Gu alongside Fire Strength Gu to ‘borrow’ Fire’s ‘Strength.’
Wind, Water, Sky, Earth—You name it!
Strength Path peaked under the reign of these two Gu. However, there is nothing everlasting.
Years went by, and the Strength Path Gu became scarce.
The Legendary All-Out Effort Gu and Borrow Strength Gu are already extinct in the mortal markets. Only a lucky few can find it by chance.
That is the grave issue with Strength Path—a declining trend.
But Lo Jik didn’t want to let his advantages go to ruin. He knows his body is abnormal. Why not use it? His body can hold more strength than others.
It’s not the same as others being born with greater strength.
In essence, Lo Jik is born with better ‘capacity.’
And he had confidence in his Trait. If it wasn’t for his trait, Lo Jik would have long accepted the Bone Path instead.
In his hand is a Rank 4 Gu. This Gu is a square brick. However, its surface is covered in tiny grooves. All these grooves have different colors. Cyan, pink, crimson, silver, gold, light green, magenta, and more!
Rank 4 Borrow Strength Gu.
‘Invented in the Olden Antiquity Era, and the core of the Heaven and Earth Branch under Strength Path.’ Lo Jik smiles gently.
There are still five more Golden Rewards.
Let’s continue!
***
Alternate Title: From Zhang To Shang; Letting Go of Hatred But Not Pettiness; Grown Xiao Die; Words That Cut Deep; Xin Ci: Oh, You’re ONLY My Father. I Found a Daddy In This Trip, Too; The Well-Mannered Xin Ci; Growing Wings; Search; Information; Unknowingly Found; Who Would Have Thought a Big Shot Like Xin Ci Has Such a Good Luck; The Surviving Members; Known Information; Four Survivors; Profits; Stonks; Sale; Massive Fortune; Unveiling Rewards; Little Giant!; The Dirty Rose; Strength and Refinement?; Striking Gold; Strength’s History; The Huamnity’s Progression; Discovering Problems and Creating Solutions; Game Changing; Legendary Gu; The First of Many; Mommy Bai Lin Blesses; Demonic Gu Masters; Ya Zi’s Plan; Blud Spoke His Plan Out Loud!
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