70. Resurfacing Strength Path (1)
Lo Jik walks upto the Lava Rock stage. His appearance can mislead others into believing that he’s a spent womanizer. After all, he wears a loose brown robe whose collars fall down his abdominal muscles, revealing a large swathe of his healthy skin and chiseled muscles. His broad sleeves hang past his shoulders. But the spectators know Lo Jik only wears loose clothing to prevent getting naked.
It’s already been two weeks after Zhun Man’s match. The month is ending.
Lo Jik did not rest these days. The second portion of his plan to advance his path includes buying or refining the Wise Cat Steps Gu. But Shang Ya Zi tried different ways to block anything Lo Jik wished to purchase. Of course, Shang Ya Zi isn’t omnipotent. He could not stop Lo Jik from buying Gu like the Green Mountain Remains. However, he cannot risk refining a Gu. Failing at this juncture may lead to injuries. Losing matches in the Battle Stage will destroy everything he’s built.
The wise option is to drop out of the Battle Stage. But Lo Jik wants experience. Sparring cannot count as experience.
Battle Zone has controlled risks and is favorable for Lo Jik. The more time he spends here, the better. Lo Jik will eventually reach the Rank 3 Peak Stage. He can plan for other things then.
So, Lo Jik enters the battle stage every other day. He also accepted Li Hao’s forceful challenge before defeating him. Li Hao had a Rank 3 Position Swap Gu, which he used with the Mountain Back Toad to switch places around and crush his enemies. However, how can such an amazing Gu exist without limitations?
Disregarding all his Body Refinement and Rank 3 Beast Strength, Lo Jik has a Rank 4 Beast Strength Phantom!
Li Hao failed the first time he tried to swap positions with Lo Jik. However, Lo Jik could not kill the man. In the end, Lo Jik took Li Hao’s Position Swap Gu and crippled his Gu Set.
Lo Jik would have forcefully challenged Li Hao if the latter didn’t.
Lo Jik needs the Position Swap Gu for a crucial Gu recipe.
Now?
He’s up against Bhu Jin.
Bhu Jin is a Middle Stage Rank 3 Gu Master. However, his reputation and combat ability exceeds Zhun Man. The 20-something-old youth has long red hair and a refined appearance. His appearance makes him look like a scholar compared to Lo Jik.
Unlike before, the spectators aren’t gushing for one party. They underestimated Lo Jik twice. Everyone favored Li Hao. But what happened to him?
He lost his Rank 3 Position Swap Gu!
What happened to Zhun Man?
He died!
Bhu Jin and Lo Jik stay at a distance as one of the spectators observes, “Lo Jik won’t be able to use the Blood Torrent Python in this environment.”
“He has the Little Giant Gu. He can boldly beat others!”
“Is Bhu Jin a weak cat? He has the Rank 3 Flame Spear and Combustion Charge Gu! Others cannot react to the speed of his attack once he uses his special method!”
“A Killer Move?” Bai Ning Bing appraises. ‘Killer moves are the highest expression of one’s Gu Set, where every Gu Worm links to form an enhanced output. My Ice Blade Storm was a step into the Killer Move. But Lo Jik revealed its weakness before I could finalize it. I’ve spent much time thinking about it and am developing a Gu Set to create a Killer Move.’
She stares at Bhu Jin.
‘Let’s see what kind of killer moves the experts of the Shang Clan have.’ Her expression turns slightly studious.
Bhu Jin doesn’t seem to feel any heat from the battle stage. Lo Jik is the same. His body can endure uncomfortable environments without breaking a sweat. He seems to have a passive appearance. His wrist rests against the loosely belted robe’s lapel.
*Whoosh*
Lo Jik sidesteps a sudden pillar of fire shooting out of the lava rock stage. The tips of his bangs slightly burn as he does not panic. Inside his mind are hundreds of floating lightning orbs—Lightning Thoughts!
‘I used eight Lightning Thoughts,’ Lo Jik smiles at Bhu Jin. ‘As expected, he got some rewards from Shang Ya Zi.’
Bhu Jin prides himself in swift attacks. For this, Lo Jik purposely entered Battle Stage the last few times to get used to fighting with Lightning Thoughts inside his mind. The Rank 3 Lightning Thoughts, aside from helping Gu Masters manage their thoughts, also allow lightning-quick thinking. It works well with the enhanced neurological system formed by the Mind-Connection Gu.
‘Oh?’ Bhu Jin blinks in surprise.
“What was that?”
“Bhu Jin came prepared. To think he had the Rank 3 Trap Fire Pillar Gu.”
Others discuss.
Lo Jik calmly avoids all the pillars of flames. This is merely a probing attack. While others may think Lo Jik isn’t consuming Primeval Essence, they are wrong. The Lightning Thoughts are temporary and will fizzle away even if Lo Jik doesn’t use them. Also, his brain is refined using the Blue Blood Gu. Using Lightning Thoughts has slightly higher consumption.
Still, Lo Jik dances around the flame pillars. His top-notch instincts assist in lowering the use of Lightning Thoughts.
Bhu Jin’s gaze turns stern as he stops.
So does Lo Jik.
“What is going on?”
“Why aren’t they attacking?”
Bai Ning Bing’s gaze shimmers.
‘I see,’ she nods. Unlike other Strength Path masters, Lo Jik is despicable. He is the kind to possess triple his enemy’s strength and still use cheap tricks!
So? Why would someone like Lo Jik play in Bhu Jin’s hands?
Common sense dictates that Lo Jik should use Bhu Jin’s weakness of a weak close-combat system. But would Bhu Jin challenge Lo Jik without knowing that? Does he not have Shang Ya Zi’s help?
Instead, Lo Jik will use his superior Essence reserve and only use the Lightning Thoughts to exhaust Bhu Jin.
Bhu Jin frowns. Although the battle isn’t intense, he suddenly feels pressured when looking at the kid a few years younger than him.
Gritting his teeth, Bhu Jin retrieves a Primeval Stone to recover his lost essence when Lo Jik’s body rockets in his direction.
‘Hehe! You’re too naive!’ Bhu Jin’s gaze glimmers as he lets out a low shout. A pillar of fire consumes Bhu Jin.
“This…”
“He is using the Trap Fire Pillar Gu as a defensive Gu?”
“Ingenious! He used it alongside Bold Fire Gu. Even we cannot see anything through the fire.”
“Even Lo Jik will get burnt if he attacks. This means…”
“Hehe! This Bhu Jin is crafty. He is preparing his move. And Lo Jik won’t see it coming.”
As expected, Lo Jik stops at a distance. Ordinarily, such thick flames won’t let Bhu Jin see through either. However, he has the Flame Scope Gu. This Gu allows the Gu Master to see through flames. But there is another problem with this method.
Air.
Bhu Jin’s body is refined in ways to resist the high temperature. But the flames feed on air.
‘Haha! I’ll have to thank Young Master Ya Zi later. To think he will gift me Air Mole Gu.’
Bhu Ji’s toes stab into the lava ground as a pair of furry mice appears in some distance. Others don’t notice it due to Bhu Jin attracting everyone’s attention. He can breathe just fine!
‘Time for you to die!’
Bhu Jin smirks and activates his means.
Flame Bow.
Flame Spear.
Fire Scope.
Combustion Charge!
His expression turns tense as Bhu Jin gives his all to control so many Gu Worms. Air Mole Gu does not need active focus. The same goes for the Bold Flames Gu. So, Bhu Jin is maintaining five things at once! However, this is an expression of his practice. Even a monkey learns to write with enough practice. Bhu Jin used the same move hundreds of times. Ordinarily, he can only complete two tasks at once. But this killer move is a representation of his current peak!
Flames spread from the back of his left hand as an arch as Bhu Jin tugged on the flaming strings. A fire spear appears by the bow. The tip of the spear reveals a sudden burst of flaming consumption as Bhu Jin lets go of the spear—
It’s too fast!
*Pew*
A thick arrow tears from the flaming walls—
A charred fist rams through the small hole, tearing Bhu Jin’s face from above.
The fire arrow impacts the wall as a red defensive light stops the flames from harming the spectators.
The disguised Bai Ning Bing’s pupils' contract!
Did she see it right?
Lo Jik moved the instant the fire arrow flew out. Winds howled as if he stored strength in his legs for a long while. His fist burns against the wall of fire, and so does the rest of his body as he kills Bhu Jin with one attack!
A killer move against a fist.
How did this happen?
Lo Jik grits his teeth as he feels his flesh turning into a crisp. He had covered his eyes with a hand after using the Hateful Strength Gu to burst with astounding strength and convert it into momentum. The Lightning Thoughts helped plan the path. Meanwhile, Lo Jik used the Heaven Piercing Eye Gu to time everything since the Fire Pillar never blocked him.
Bhu Jin wasn’t weak.
But he was outclassed.
‘I’ve killed two experts. It should be enough for a smooth path in the Fifter Inner Cit’s Battle Zone.’
He feels his vision swimming due to the pain since even his hair burnt off. Lo Jik looks extremely pitiful as he uses the Self-Reliance Gu to recover from his injuries.
After dealing with other things like taking Bhu Jin’s Gu, Lo Jik books a private room inside the Battle Zone before focusing on healing.
The Self-Reliance Gu’s effects are nothing to scoff at. The stronger the Gu Master is, the better the results. Of course, temporary measures like the Hateful Strength Gu won’t affect it.
‘The superiority of the Tough Skin Gu shows here,’ Lo Jik grits his teeth as a numbing sensation covers him. ‘Gu Worms contains the fragments of Great Dao. When a Gu Master uses the Gu, they are using and interacting with the shards of Great Dao! This is the essence of Gu Cultivation—Use, Refine, and Nurture. All these aspects allow the Gu Masters to communicate with the Great Dao in some form and manner.’
‘This is also the essence of ‘Paths.’ Bhu Jin walks the fire path and communicates with the Fire Dao of the Great Dao. Using the Beast Strength Gu is the same as carving my body with fragments of the Strength Dao of the Great Dao! Ordinarily, a Gu Master’s safest option will be using the Bronze Skin, Iron Bones, and Steel Tendons. These Gu carve shards of metal dao on the body. Fortunately, they don’t conflict with the fragments of Beast Strengths.’
‘It is also the essence of Wei Yang removing these shards to use the Rainbow Light Gu and Li Hao failing to use the Position Swap Gu on me. The Position Swap Gu has a fragment of Space Dao. However, it conflicts with the Strength Dao on my body. I also have a superior fragment of the Strength Dao from the Cold Hard Bones and Dragon Elephant Phantom. So, I won the contest of Dao Marks, and Li Hao suffered a backlash.’
‘It’s also the core concept of Rank 5 Fickle Heart Strength Gu. It’s a miraculous Gu that consumes the Beast’s Heart to form certain dao marks and advance the Beast Phantoms on the Gu Master’s body.’
‘The use of Self-Reliance Gu also has the healing dao. Had I used the Bronze Skin combination, it would have taken some time to heal. However, the dao marks carved on my skin from the Tough Skin Gu complement the dao marks contained inside the Self-Reliance Gu. But I will still need slightly longer to heal because the Self-Reliance Gu reforms my skin alongside the dao marks of the Tough Skin Gu.’
Knowing all this from the Imaginative Stregth’s Inheritance was an eye-opening experience. It also places a perspective on how Defensive Gu operates.
If the dao marks of the offense are superior, then the defensive dao will falter and shatter.
The most common example is the Frenzy Needle Bee Gu.
This Rank 3 Gu can pierce any defensive Gu. Why? Not even the publicly acclaimed strongest Broadsword Light and Sword Shadow Gu can do that.
Because the Frenzy Needle Gu contains a fragment of absolute piercing.
But there are ways to support a defensive Gu and endure.
This is the essence of Killer Moves!
A Gu Masters allows the Gu Worms—the Fragments of the Great Dao—to interact and form something new.
Something better.
‘And that is also the essence of Refinement of a Gu. When fusing a Gu, we combine the fragments of Dao inside the Gu.’
Lo Jik smiles as he recovers. Although he is bald and without any eyebrows, he doesn’t feel bad. His hair grows quicker than usual.
‘Knowing all this allows me to understand why someone like Imaginative Strength Immortal can have such crazy ideas. Equations, eh. That’s one way to understand the Dao. No. Wrong. That’s not a way but a ‘perspective’ to find another path. The tried and true method remains using, refining, and nurturing the dao—The Gu Worm.’
<<<>>>
Lo Jik’s display of dominant and brutal might shook the spectators as the news of his victory spread further!
His reputation also grew. However, a murderous reputation in the Shang Clan cannot be seen positively. What Lo Jik wanted happened. Others began to give up the matches as soon as he walked in. Although Lo Jik seeks experience, the opponents are inside the third inner city Battle Zone.
But this also lowered his interaction with Xin Ci for some time. Although Lo Jik wishes to use Xin Ci somehow, she’s kind and caring. She couldn’t bear with Lo Jik killing others so decisively. Although she views Lo Jik in an endearing light, his acts make it hard for her to accept things.
Lo Jik doesn’t mind this change. Xin Ci’s distance also gives Lo Jik more time to focus on himself instead of worrying over Shang Yan Fei recruiting him.
“Sigh…”
Xin Ci exhales for the umpteenth time as she watches the Liquor Worm swimming in the vat of liquor and drinking its fill. This Gu seems fulfilled, round, and cute even among other Liquor Worms. This is the Liquor Worm Lo Jik gifted her. Xin Ci never used it. Instead, she takes care of it and feeds it almost every day until the Gu decides to stop drinking.
“Let’s go shopping, Missy,” Xiao Die offers. “You are cooped in here for days. Moving outside the First Inner City will help you clear your mind.”
“I agree with Xiao Die,” Xiao Lan speaks softly. “Stressing will not solve anything, Lady Xin Ci.”
Tian Lan doesn’t offer any words as she stands beside them. Compared to others, Tian Lan can somewhat understand Lo Jik’s intentions.
“I’m not sad or stressed,” Xin Ci shakes her head, revealing she understands it, too. “Brother Monkey must have known others would lust after his Little Giant Gu once he exposes it. So, he chose to build a reputation. Doesn’t a worse reputation spread further than a good one? How can I expect Brother Monkey to go easy on others when a refined Gu Set is as crucial as a Gu Master’s life?”
She’s been learning well and understands several components of a Gu Master’s cultivation.
“I just wish everyone could compete in harmony. However, I don’t have the strength to exercise that wish. Even if I did, others may not have the same attitude. I’m sorry, you three. I don’t wish to travel right now.”
Xiao Die and the others glance at each other before stepping back and leaving the courtyard.
‘Just when I seem to decide something, I feel confused and small. I feel ordinary, left in that chasm. Meanwhile, Brother Monkey uses everything at his disposal, even his reputation, to cross that bridge, trying to attain an extraordinary name.’
Xin Ci stares at the satisfied silkworm floating on the wine’s surface. She smiles gently and retrieves the Gu.
She recalls the passage from the tales of Ren Zu while contemplating her thoughts.
One time, Verdant Great Sun got very drunk. When he woke up, his head hurt, and he forgot all that happened when he was drunk. He did not know why he was trapped on a lone hill, one which was surrounded by a bottomless abyss.
The abyss was filled with spiral winds of pale green color. This was the 'usual wind.' The winds blew dust into the air. Those were the dark yellow color 'mortal dust.'
Verdant Great Sun's heart sank. He recognized that this was the Ordinary Abyss. No living being had ever managed to fly past it. He was trapped on this lone hill, unable to get out; he would die of starvation eventually.
Thankfully, there was a forest on the lone hill. Verdant Great Sun was hungry and came into this forest to find fruits. But this forest was strange. The black soil was like a swamp, smelling extremely pungent. The trees had no leaves, and the branches looked like strange claws. But when the wind blew, there was the sound of leaves moving in the wind.
Verdant Great Sun could not find food and fell into despair, knowing he was going to die soon.
A few days later, he was so hungry he could not move, leaning on the tree trunk as he lay on the ground.
He eventually fell unconscious.
In his slumber, he could hear many voices talking.
"Hey, look, this person finally passed out."
"Mm, as I expected, he's finished."
"Actually, it is possible to leave the Ordinary Abyss. You just need the Reputation Gu."
"Reputation Gu is at the forest’s heart under a rock. Too bad he doesn't know, hahaha…"
"Sshhh, speak softer. It will be bad if he hears us."
"It's okay, it's okay, he has fainted already. Before long, the black soil will bury him and turn him into nutrients for our trees."
Hearing this, Verdant Great Sun jolted awake.
It turns out this forest is Xi Yu Forest. What he had thought was leaves brushing in the wind turned out to be the whispers of the trees.
After hearing the information, Verdant Great Sun walked to the forest’s center, lifted the rock, and obtained the Reputation Gu.
Reputation Gu was like a chrysanthemum. Its petals were golden yellow, emitting a fragrance.
Reputation Gu addressed Verdant Great Sun: "Young man, thank you for lifting the rock and saving me. To repay you, I have decided to help you get across this Ordinary Abyss."
Reputation Gu told Verdant Great Sun the method to use it.
Verdant Great Sun was overjoyed, arriving at the Ordinary Abyss and placing the Reputation Gu in his mouth, shouting as loud as he could...
The strange thing was, no matter how loud he shouted, there was no sound, but the vibrations in the air caused the Ordinary Abyss to shake. It was like an earthquake as the commotion got bigger. The air was even filled with a brilliant fragrance.
Verdant Great Sun did not feel anything weird, as he had known from the Reputation Gu: Reputation itself has no voice. But it can spread wide and create tremors.
As he shouted, a golden bridge appeared in midair, but the bridge's length was limited. There was still a long distance to the other side.
Verdant Great Sun was too hungry, too tired. The effect continued diminishing after trying several times, and his chance for salvation seemed dim.
Reputation Gu sighed: "Sigh, you have not eaten anything. Even though you have a breath left in your stomach, it is too little. From your diaphragm, it has to go through your stomach, chest, throat, and finally, your mouth. The journey is long. We have to reduce it. Here, place me between your two buttcheeks.
Verdant Great Sun did as instructed.
Reputation Gu landed near his private part and turned into a chrysanthemum cave.
"Okay, you can start shouting again." Reputation Gu said.
Verdant Great Sun forced that last breath out of this hole, out of his body.
Prrrrrrrrrrrrrrt—
In his daze, Verdant Great Sun heard a loud sound. The air was filled with an unimaginable stench. But that golden bridge became majestic and towering, stretching over a thousand miles and reaching the other side.
Compared to a good reputation, a shitty reputation is always easier to obtain and maintain.
Verdant Great Sun quickly crossed the bridge, leaving the Ordinary Abyss and reaching the other side, saving his life.
Lo Jik opens his eyes with excitement.
‘Others would give me face if I spent years building a solid reputation, earned a place in the Shang Clan, and selflessly assisted others. However, that journey is winding and long. Like Verdant Sun, I’m not too fulfilled. I was like a hungry man trapped in the Ordinary Abyss. But creating that shitty reputation let me cross the abyss that is the Shang Clan’s Fourth Inner City. And it also temporarily loosened Shang Ya Zi’s control. Nobody knows the future. But I got the Wise Cat Steps.’
His gaze glimmers as he looks at the two floating orbs. Now he can refine the Gu. He swiftly selected a few materials before refining them and getting this result. One of the orbs is red, and the other is blue.
Lo Jik carefully controls and combines them.
With a thought, Lo Jik retrieves his Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus—doing three tasks at once! Of course, Lo Jik uses the Three Tasks at Once Gu. His situation improves rapidly. But he needs to train his ability, just like practicing trick shots.
Right now, Lo Jik cannot practice refinement due to the costs and the risks of injury. Other Refinement Experts control targeted healing Gu for the mind and the spirit. Such Gu are only auctioned rarely. Even the Shang Clan’s shops don’t have the Rare Gu tailored for Lo Jik.
‘Go!’
But Lo Jik has to check something. The quicker he does it, the better.
The Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus consumes 120 Primeval Stones before floating above the orb of Gu Fusion.
‘Release.’
The Lotus’ nine petals bloom, showering the Gu Fusion with pure Primeval Essence!
Lo Jik stares at the ball condensing rapidly before turning into a Rank 1 Bone Spear.
‘Success!’
Lo Jik almost jumps in excitement!
The value of the Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus increases even more in Lo Jik’s heart!
‘Who would have thought?’ He shakes his head. The idea to replace the individual throw of Primeval Stone with fresh supplementation from the Lotus was a sudden inspiration during his cultivation. However, Lo Jik didn’t act on it for fear of injuries.
This final step in Gu Fusion is often time-consuming and can be disrupted. But understanding the use of Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus changes things!
He could not have done this if he still had the Battle Zone to worry about.
‘It can be considered a success. I placated Wei Yang by revealing the Little Giant Gu. Although we have a good relationship, it would have turned sour if I kept rejecting his good intentions. Now he knows I’m not wasting my life. Entering the Battle Stage also allows me to earn Primeval Stones. I had fallen to the savings of 1.1 Million Stones. However, the situation is stable for now. My earnings balance my daily expenditure. Third, I managed to get the Position Swap Gu. Li Hao got it through the Gambling Rocks. It’s the only one around the Inner City, and I needed it to refine a Gu for the killer move.’
Unlike others, Lo Jik has several killer moves in his mind. And he doesn’t feel bad using them. He can save time and climb the ranks of strength. Like using the Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus—won’t he have more inspirations to test as he gets stronger?
Lo Jik doesn’t think it’s unfair.
People like Shang Yan Fei also have several opportunities. If the rumors are correct, the Shang Clan Leader also has a True Inheritance or two from the Blood Sea Ancestor! Will Shang Yan Fei ignore all the knowledge gained through that out of fairness?
‘Actually…’
Lo Jik muses.
‘Will I get more Blood Path True Inheritances if I hook up with Xin Ci? Her father is a Blood Path Gu Master. I also had a Blood Path ancestor.’
He shakes his head.
Xin Ci is still only a Rank 1 Gu Master.
‘I should write that letter.’
He notes and gets to work.
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