Reverend Rizzsanity

Lo Jik ought to be worried about the recent twists becoming a pattern since he did not see another matter coming. First, it was the matter of Hu Mei Er becoming his Vital Human, connecting another soul to his being. Second, he did not expect Tie Ruo Nan to be determined enough to recruit him.

The Unchained Vagabond was used to form backups upon backups. An astute Gu Master would seek as many connections as possible to increase their chances of survival. Whether he used Tie Ruo Nan's attempts at removing the bounties on their heads was a different, dubious matter. He originally wanted Ruo Nan to swiftly deal with the bounties so he could enter the Inheritance site from Tie Clan's side. Unfortunately, Tie Ruo Nan was a bit too straight. Instead of conspiring a trap by discussing it with Tie Mu Bai to remove the bounties, the woman was truthfully determined to have the duo's sins revoked against Tie Clan.

Lo Jik expected a Wisdom Path Gu Master like Fang Zheng to instruct such a plan without thinking much. However, either the latter was occupied with other tasks, or his achievements in the art of cunning were still lacking.

So, consider Lo Jik's surprise when he received an invitation from the Wu Clan of all parties!

How did they contact him?

Li Xian.

If Hu Mei Er and Tie Ruo Nan could pick on it, it would only be a matter of time before the Super Clans discovered his trade with Li Xian.

It was as if Heaven was determined to see Lo Jik through his plan.

Despite understanding the Wu Clan's intentions, Lo Jik understood he no longer needed their invitation to enact the last of his lengthy and frankly exhausting scheme. With everything that happened, Lo Jik wished to retreat into hiding and spend years digesting all the gains, from the surprising Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable's outstanding creation to the mastered use of the Blood Skull Gu.

Indeed, after pulling all manners of shit on the Southern Border's Super Forces, Lo Jik desired peace.

"Tch."

An irritated noise echoed in their cave as Lo Jik glanced at the frustrated Bai Ning Bing. Their gazes met before the former looked away.

"I'll skin you alive, bastard! Stop looking down on me!"

"I literally said nothing," Lo Jik rolled his eyes, making Bai Ning Bing vibrate with angst.

"Are we leaving or not?" The Frost Devil scoffed coldly.

Lo Jik moved forward and leaned against the cave's entrance, his gaze squared upon the sky as the sun steadily set into the horizon.

"Soon," he mused.

"And that slut of yours," Bai Ning Bing hissed. "Why does she have to stick with us? WE were going to the Central Continent, not her."

Lo Jik plastered a wry smile on his face.

"Come on, it's not that bad. Wouldn't you want your friend, nay, I dare say, BEST FRIEND, to enjoy?"

"Nope. I want you to dip your dick in a shallow pool and then freeze it instead of that slut."

The Little Giant shrugged.

"Well, thank you for understanding. I knew you had my best intentions in that block of ice you call a heard."

"Hmpgh!"

<<<>>>

"Do you think he will accept?"

Peace had returned upon San Cha's fork-like peak. Everybody knew it was momentary until the Inheritance opened again. As usual, the Rank 5 experts would boast the right of entry regardless of their origins. It was already evident that the Wind Qilin's strength as Empress Wu Ji was finite, but others did not underestimate what a Wind Qilin could achieve even without a human's consciousness.

A colorful armor covered the elegant Wind Qilin as it rested its bearded chin upon the back of its sharp claws. The long whiskers on its muzzle floated without any external stimulus, making it appear majestic despite its resting state.

Like the Tie Clan, the Wu Clan occupied a sizeable share of San Cha's peak.

Accompanying the majestic Beast Emperor was Wu Clan's famous general, Wind Sword Wu Lan Shan.

"Why wouldn't he? If he's as intelligent as he's already shown to be, it's in the Little Giant King's best interest to work for me. How long could he survive after the Tie Clan focuses on him once everyone is done with the Three Kings' Inheritance?" The qilin spoke in a deep voice, making Wu Lan Shan momentarily raise her eyebrows.

She was curious how long Wu Ji took to master such a killer move since she was proficient in speech within the Qilin's body. However, they weren't within the Wu Clan's privacy, and it wouldn't do to expose her childish demeanor and implicate her elder cousin's reputation.

Besides her curiosity, Wu Lan Shan agreed with what Wu Ji implied. After all, they had successfully recruited Wei Shen Jing. Known as the Counterfeit Master, Wei Shen Jing was notorious for singlehandedly plummeting the market for Scrap-Grade gambling rocks by making fakes so real that nobody could effortlessly distinguish between them. Needless to say, he infringed upon the bottom line of several Clans and was almost eradicated from the face of the Southern Border if Wu Ji did not see the potential within the Demonic Gu Master to become beneficial for the Wu Clan.

Currently, Wei Shen Jing was the Wu Clan's external elder, like Wei Yang within the Shang Clan.

Like Wei Shen Jing's case, Wu Ji chose to recuperate their losses by lending Gu Yue Lo Jik an olive branch.

Lo Jik was pursued by one of Wu Clan's elders for two reasons. First, he killed Li Ran in Shang Clan's battle stage. He was Wu Ran, the Clan's spy, to infiltrate the Shang Clan. Second, Lo Jik displayed a set of Gu Worms obtained from an ancient Strangth Path inheritance. Coupled with the information of another Gu Yue Clansman with the name of Fang Zheng displaying a Wisdom Path inheritance, and the Qing Mao Mountain itself afflicted with a Blood Calamity theorized to be from Blood Sea Ancestor's inheritance made many Super Forces envy not discovering the ruined treasure trove beforehand.

But now?

The identity of the Blood Inheritance was anybody's guess. And the inheritor of the unknown Wisdom Path inheritance sided with the Tie Clan. Wu Ji's sight squared on Gu Yue Lo Jik once her father failed to capture the youth for his gains.

Despite humanity's advancement in the Gu World, the dead could not be restored readily. So, Wu Ji displayed her pragmatic side by inviting Lo Jik to join the Wu Clan for protection from other Super Forces. The invitation explicitly stated how the Wu Clan's consideration would end the second the Three Kings' Inheritance concluded. Of course, offering the carrot alongside the stick was traditional, so Wu Ji didn't fail to mention the lucrative terms Lo Jik stood to gain should he integrate with the Wu Clan.

But Wu Ji sensed something amiss from Wu Lan Shan.

"You doubt Lo Jik would make the correct choice and instead choose to confront the Wu Clan, is that it?"

Wu Lan Shan remained silent. A soft sight escaped her lips as she gazed at the darkening sky.

"I'm feeling something strange, Cousin."

"Strange?"

"It's in the air," Wu Lan Shan admitted. "I fear something terrible is almost upon us. Whatever it is, I don't believe Gu Yue Lo Jik has the means to make me feel like this. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I only felt like this when Old Lord Wu Lin tried to have you assassinated."

The corner of Wu Ji's thick bestial eyelids trembled. She recalled that incident all too well, barely surviving because she had obtained some gains from the Ancient Strength Inheritance without others' knowledge.

"Gu Masters experienced with the Time, Wisdom, and a few other paths eventually obtain some form of sixth sense about events capable of harming their lives. It's one of the reasons why they are adept in predictions," Wu Ji spoke in soft snarls. "There are rare Gu Masters with enough experience in the Wind Path to notice the 'shift' in their surroundings, but it's nowhere near the same intensity as practitioners of Time and Wisdom Paths."

"Gee," Wu Lan Shan scoffed. "I almost forgot all these classes from you." Her tone dripped with sarcasm. "Where would I be without your guidance, Cousin?"

"Occupied by a glory hole and accepting the filthiest and stinkiest cocks for your 69th child," Wu Ji informed kindly.

Wu Lan Shan snorted and continued. "I'm not believing this mild ominous feeling if that's what you're worried about. I just thought you would be interested in knowing about it."

"Anyway," Wu Lan Shan adopted a practiced smile. "I'm off to the banquet set by the Tie Clan's Old Man. We can't let him chummy up with those righteous Lone Gu Masters. Want me to bring you something? A bowl of meat, perhaps?"

"How about I eat you?" Wu Ji growled in annoyance.

"Oh, my," Wu Lan Shan instantly used her movement Gu to slip away as her disastrous words hung in Wu Ji's surroundings like a specter's whisper. "You're so blunt and open, Cousin. But we're related. I'll find some more beautiful women for you to eat them out."

Wu Ji snorted under her breath.

Still, with Wu Lan Shan gone, her idle expression retreated to reveal a more stern look.

'If something grand is afoot to make Wu Lan Shan feel weird… thankfully, I came prepared.'

<<<>>>

Banquets decorated San Cha's nights with beautiful light and warmed the surroundings with the harmonious noise of several Gu Masters getting to know each other. It was the sight of the Righteous Force's domination upon the mountain, with several notable demonic Gu Masters forced to exit the region whenever they left the inheritance site. While there was a period of rotation where the arrival of exemplary figures from the opposing sides would either hand the hegemony to the Righteous or Demonic factions, Wu Ji's arrival and the Wu Clan's army solidified the Righteous Force's hold upon the mountain with only a few Demonic Gu Masters capable of entering the Inheritance site due to the Wind Qilin guarding the peak.

The strange assassinations had stopped long ago, allowing several Rank 3 experts to sigh in relief. Many Lone Gu Masters were readily invited into the mountain, using the Three Kings' Inheritance as bait to persuade them to join the Clans as external elders and be offered lucrative rewards.

Among these guests was someone peculiar because he was not a Lone Gu Master with a righteous/neutral reputation or a Gu Master from a clan.

This Gu Master looked odd and ugly at a glance, with a face that was disfigured and misshapen. The eyesockets were asymmetrical, the lips thin, and the teeth yellow, protruding, and unattractive. Clumps of hair grew from the nostrils and ears, with sparse strands covering the head.

If being ugly was the standard of being a Demonic Gu Master, this Gu Master would surpass the deadliest Demonic Venerable in terms of being demonic.

Yet, nobody looked down on this man. Instead, he was a subject of admiration and awe. Even Wu Lan Shan reigned her temper and didn't attack the well-known demonic Gu Master, knowing Tie Mu Bai might intervene.

"Hehe," the Old Gu Master's voice felt dry and cracked as if his vocal cords refused to produce anything but the most disgusting noise. "Thank you for the invitation, Friend."

Tie Mu Bai raised his cup with a cordial smile before drinking wine as others around them cheered. Soon, everyone began to toast each other. However, there was someone who didn't feel comfortable.

'So, it's okay for you to ride a Demonic Gu Master's lap, but when I do it… well, nobody's riding anybody.' Tie Ruo Nan remained quiet and observed everything, feeling her stomach churn with the dripping hypocrisy around her, knowing well that she needed to be like her betters if she had any hope for vengeance.

Her target was to have Tie Mu Bai revoke Lo Jik's and Bai Ning Bing's bounty. Of course, their previous confrontation proved that objective nigh impossible. So, Tie Ruo Nan couldn't help but study how and why Tie Mu Bai was so warm towards the Rank 5 famed Gu Master Killer Ghost Doctor—Chou Jiu.

For one, the other party was a Rank 5 Gu Master. However, wasn't the same applicable to Wu Gui, Ku Mo, and Wang Xiao? So, why was Chou Jiu invited when those three weren't?

Tie Ruo Nan knew the answer on the surface level.

It was because Chou Jiu was one of the four great doctors. He possessed massive connections, and nobody wanted to get on the bad side of such a figure.

Yet, there was more.

Chou Jiu's demonic reputation soared due to an eccentric rule. When he should have become a symbol of peace and harmony by being one of the most excellent doctors, Chou Jiu demanded his patients to kill someone.

One life for another.

It was a demonic act on the surface.

However, Chou Jiu maintained his righteousness by claiming he never forced anyone to accept his treatment.

So? Was the patient demonic or the doctor for posing such rules?

During Chou Jiu's early years, the line was very clear—both the patient AND the doctor were demonic. However, the difference blurred once Chou Jiu's healing prowess gained notoriety and attracted many desperate Gu Masters from the righteous faction.

Ultimately, the influx of Righteous Gu Masters unwilling to be branded as Demonic Gu Masters began inviting Chou Jiu to their settlements, which led to Chou Jiu being branded as a morally acceptable figure.

In fact, Tie Ruo Nan recalled the Tie Clan revoking Chou Jiu's bounty once he gained too much fame.

Indeed, Chou Jiu was a live example of how what Tie Ruo Nan considered impossible was not so impossible after all.

'But Lo Jik is a Strength Path Gu Master. He doesn't have many connections either, no thanks to Hu Mei Er.' Tie Ruo Nan worked her jaw.

'If only we were Immortals…' She gulped secretly.

Tie Ruo Nan was surrounded by warmth and clansmen. Yet, she did not feel any comfort.

She tried contacting Fang Zheng about her current dilemma but hadn't received any reply.

'Still, I have time.' Tie Ruo Nan consoled herself. 'Lo Jik isn't stupid enough to show his face around here. There's nothing aside from the Inheritance that can benefit him. However, Empress Wu Ji and Old Lord Tie Mu Bai should deter him enough.'

"Tie Ruo Nan…"

A quiet but deep voice snapped Ruo Nan from her thoughts. A towering figure beside her attracted her attention.

"Elder Tie Ba Xiu," she quickly greeted the stoic Present Age Overlord.

Ba Xiu nodded and turned to face the crowd, occasionally raising his cup if someone toasted him. Tie Ruo Nan mimicked his movements as silence blanketed the duo despite the air of celebration.

"Are you training well?" Tie Ba Xiu inquired after a long time.

"Yes," Tie Ruo Nan replied. "Did you need something, Elder Ba?"

Tie Ba Xiu briefly maintained his silence before exhaling.

"You should stop working so much for vengeance. Elder Brother Xue Leng wanted better things for you."

Tie Ruo Nan's eyes briefly widened before she narrowed them with a cold expression.

"I understand, Elder Tie Ba Xiu. I'm grateful for your teachings."

Ba Xiu met her gaze before sighing and walking away.

'Give up on my revenge? Just as the Tie Clan swore off Demonic Gu Masters utilizing Blood Path Gu before Uncle handed you a Blood Gu the clan researched for years?'

Tie Ruo Nan pursed her lips.

'Only what I want matters more in the world regulated by the powerful.' Tie Ruo Nan affirmed her convictions before regaining her cool.

'Father wanted better things for me…' She wanted to scoff at the notion. However, Tie Ruo Nan knew her actions had long exceeded what Tie Xue Leng would consider acceptable.

'But he's not here…' Tie Ruo Nan mourned quietly—

"HOW IS HE HERE?!"

Wu Yu Tan's shout surprised everyone before they heard the collection of Wind Falcons cry in unison as they took off into the night sky!

*Boom*

Everyone heard a soft, distant explosion as the expressions of a few Gu Masters within the banquet changed.

"Eh?" someone gasped. "I saw Li Xian destroy my Gu Worm near San Cha's base… it's an attack!"

<<<>>>

Empress Wu Ji felt the shift in the air before she stood on her four limbs. Her massive face shook instinctively, an action her Wind Qilin committed whenever it woke from its slumber.

Cold, vertical pupils saw through the night and glanced at the shifting cloud, ridden by a massive dark-golden mammoth with snowy white tusks.

The Rank 4 Essence Cloud Elephant King.

Wu Ji felt the nearby scouting Wind Falcon stir since Wu Yu Tan maintained a firm grip in scouting the mountain through his beast groups. She did not doubt Lo Jik's appearance was already discovered by the Young Elder.

Still, Wu Ji couldn't help but smile, which bared her sharp fangs to the elements.

The qilin's body twisted elegantly as it trotted upon the air before appearing near the Rank 4 Steed Gu Worm.

"Welcome, Little Giant King and Frost Devil," she uttered. "I'm impressed. You two were quick to make the right decision."

Sitting on the Essence Cloud Elephant King were Lo Jik and Bai Ning Bing. Both appeared calm despite facing the terrifying Rank 5 Beast Emperor armored to the boot through a defensive Killer Move.

Bai Ning Bing appeared curious about such Killer Moves. He knew about them, but it was his first time seeing something like this. After all, a carriage made from the Gu Worms capable of turning into armor wasn't exactly a common sight.

"Your invitation certainly put things in perspective, Empress," Lo Jik greeted smilingly. "You were correct. We needed the resources of a Super Clan to polish and fulfill our talents. Wu Clan is the most prosperous faction regarding Strength Path's resources."

Surprisingly, his words achieved the opposite reaction as a grim intent oozed from the massive, hill-sized Qilin's body.

"It's a shame," Wu Ji huffed. The Qilin's body tensed into imminent action.

'Huh, she's the first to not buy it,' Lo Jik mused, oddly impressed. However, intrigue did not curtain the immense threat he faced. The mammoth declined with a resounding trumpet as several groups of Wind Falcons had already created a tight perimeter above San Cha's peak.

"Ready?"

Bai Ning Bing barely heard Lo Jik's soft query as his blue pupils remained stuck on the impressive Qilin.

"Of course," Bai Ning Bing's tone revealed the thinly-veiled excitement coursing through his body.

"Good!"

Lo Jik grinned, almost feeling the same sensation.

"Get back here!"

Wu Ji opened her muzzle, revealing those glistening fangs as invisible Strength Qi collected into a point.

Having practiced for a while, the duo kicked into action.

Swift and precise, two arrows already conjured with tips pointed at the Qilin.

The cold wind whipped around Lo Jik as Bai Ning Bing revealed a cold smirk, more than pleased with his growth since he couldn't have formed Frost Packed Explosive Punch so swiftly a few months ago.

"It will not be enough!" Wu Ji's roar shook the peak as she launched volleys of Strength Qi invisible to the naked eye.

However, the eye hidden behind the headband around Lo Jik's forehead was not ordinary.

Rank 5 Heaven and Earth Before My Eyes.

The only thing Lo Jik couldn't see through were the living beings!

How could the volleys hit him?

The mammoth steed avoided the attack and maneuvered superiorly to avoid the significantly quicker Qilin.

Wu Ji might have experienced controlling the Wind Qilin's body, but her strength was limited, and he did not master flying to the same degree as Lo Jik.

'Those Killer Moves aren't for me?' Wu Ji grew guarded when she noticed the demonic duo had yet to launch their attacks.

Only less than two minutes had passed when another opponent had already arrived.

"Face me, Gu Yue Lo Jik!"

Wu Yu Tan shrilled as he rode a gigantic Wind Falcon Beast King, leading a torrent of beast groups that darkened the night sky a notch further.

"Heh," Lo Jik smirked as he finally achieved an appropriate position.

It was honestly a pity.

Lo Jik's initial plan was several times more sophisticated, involving the eventual wear of the Blessed Land before he controlled it using several Gu Worms like the Policy Gu, Heaven's Will Gu, and the Wishful Blessing Gu. Unfortunately, despite Li Xian's connections, Lo Jik never got any of those Gu Worms.

So…

'Brute force it is!'

*Twing*

Lo Jik let loose the arrow he'd held until now.

The sky griffin arrow tore through with a shrill noise before hitting a peculiar spot between King Xin and King Bao's peak!

There was no explosion when the arrow struck.

Instead, a massive 'hole' ripped open, revealing cracked greyish earth, a plain of dry and sparse yellow grass, and a desolate white sky.

It was night. San Cha's peak, despite several battles, was more than lush. And the ground was fertile. How could such a scene appear out of nowhere?

The Blessed Land!

'Lo Jik knew about the Blessed Land's weak spot?!' The realization thoroughly changed Wu Ji's outlook on the Rank 4 Upper Stage 'Junior.' But what hadn't she experienced save for the experiences beyond mortality?

This change did not stop Wu Ji since she understood what was coming.

Alas, Lo Jik had positioned himself after considering several things. The mammoth instantly entered the Blessed Land's opening as Bai Ning Bing grinned and deployed his killer move.

The arrow streaming with glowing blue ice and whistling blizzard slammed into the entrance, raising a massive swirl of frost that blocked everything and everyone.

Needless to say, Wu Ji chose the sanest option—to bear the brunt with a body protected by a Killer Move fashioned from Gu Worms above the already tough exterior of a Beast Emperor!

She would not let her prey escape!

"Damn it!" Wu Yu Tan gritted his teeth and tightened the perimeter with an ugly expression. He couldn't bear such an attack since he was an Enslavement Path Gu Master, and the modifications on his flesh could not defend against such a Killer Move.

It was wiser to wait for Wu Lan Shan and inform her about everything.

'Where is Elder Wu Lan Shan?' Yu Tan glimpsed. Shouldn't others already be here—

A gentle whisper echoed near his ear as Wu Yu Tan lost concentration. It was merely a moment's folly when a specter swept behind him. A graceful yet robust hand wave separated Wu Yu Tan's head from his body.

The Beast Group instantly grew chaotic as they seemed unaware of the dark-robed man standing amidst them.

'As expected. Enslavement Path Gu Masters refined their soul to a surprising degree. Hmph.'

The pair of ruthless purple orbs turned and gazed at the frozen entrance.

'How did that Little Giant King perceive the weak spot? Did he already know about it from another inheritance's hint? Or… a Gu Worm?'

The youth's lips curled into a bloodthirsty smile as he shot ahead. 'Li Xian's information proved correct. Gu Yue Lo Jik plans to loot and plunder the Inheritance and knows a few secrets. Others will soon arrive and try capturing him. The inheritances he possesses are too attractive even for me.'

'Ku Mo shouldn't be my match. However, I'm only an Initial Stage Rank 5 Gu Master. It's better to sneak around for now.'

The demonic Gu Master turned into a dark specter before phasing through the icy wall as if it didn't exist.

'How intriguing.'

An elegant-looking man phased into existence as he watched the spot where the previous Demonic Gu Master entered.

'Now, should I loot Wu Yu Tan?'

He was Yan Jun, a famed expert from Yan Clan.

'No,' Yan Jun stepped forward, his feet untouched by the blood beneath his soles. Erratic and furious falcons instantly attacked him. After all, he wasn't invisible to them. However, the birds phased through the Gu Master as he quietly entered the Inheritance.

"Keke! I'm the first to reach!" Wu Gui grinned, closely chased by Tie Mu Bai.

"You are too late, Tie Mu Bai! Shatter!"

Wu Gui pointed at the frozen entrance, releasing a massive swirl of endless darkness that struck and shattered the frozen wall.

"I'm not late!" Tie Mu Bai shouted. Dignity oozed from his being as he appeared like a golden deity in the night sky. "Your end will never be too late!"

"Damn it!" Wu Lan Shan gritted her teeth once she saw Wu Yu Tan's corpse. Unlike others, she stepped near the man and stored his corpse to grant him a proper funeral later.

However, that was enough for Ku Mo and Wang Xiao to catch up to the woman.

"You cannot stop us!" Ku Mo grinned, dressed in bone armor.

"Hmph! Let's put those words to the test, shall we?" A green sword with swirling wind around it appeared in Wu Lan Shan's grip.

'Damn it! How could things be so chaotic already?' Another figure appeared near the battlefield. Several falcons had already flown away, but many still stayed, creating a chaos of feathers and sharp cries.

'That's the weak spot?'

His eyes glinted.

'Since it has already appeared… no point trying to preserve the Blessed Land. More and more Gu Masters are going to arrive shortly. Tch. I planned to use it to enhance my reputation. However, I cannot let Tie Mu Bai and others play things their way!'

Wu Lan Shan and the demonic duo had already noticed the newcomer. After all… a Rank 5 Peak Stage aura was challenging to ignore!

"Young Master Xiao Mang?" Wu Lan Shan blinked.

"Hmph! What is the point of wasting time by fighting? Do you think Wu Gui and Tie Mu Bai will actually battle inside the Blessed Land? Since a weak point appeared in a Blessed Land without a Land Spirit, the Blessed Land's essence will leak without stopping, weakening it exponentially!"

"You want us to work together?" Wang Xiao sneered. "I never knew Young Master Xiao Mang was a jester."

"Losing your nerve, Wang Xiao?" Wu Lan Shan chuckled coldly. "You two were pretty rowdy ganging up on a lone, helpless woman, eh?"

"Shut up! Helpless?" Ku Mo hissed. "I'll get back to you for cutting off my arm last month!"

Xiao Mang narrowed his eyes and gazed at the opening. He could see a small pack of dogs inside.

"When the Blessed Land weakens, it will eventually perish and summon the Winds of Assimilation. At that point, we will only have the chance of escaping through the weak points and open gaps created beforehand since those damnable winds take the longest to converge upon these spots."

"Boy, we know all that!" Ku Mo snorted.

"Then feast your eyes, you poor bastard," Xiao Mang smiled coldly.

"What did you say?" Ku Mo's eyes widened before he shut up.

Xiao Mang's body levitated and glowed like a rising sun!

Rank 5 Extreme Light Gu.

Rank 5 Heaven's Will Gu.

Rank 5 Empty Fist Gu!

Rank 5 Killer Move: Immemorial Light Fist!

A massive pillar of light bloomed around Xiao Mang.

"Is that the Light of Glory from the Immemorial times?" Wang Xiao gasped in admiration. Many knew about Xiao Mang and his temperament. He possessed an extinct Rank 5 Light Path Gu, the Extreme Light Gu. The Extreme Light Gu could surprisingly summon the Light of Glory, capable of moving through all the nine heavens and shining upon every living being!

The light condensed into a gargantuan fist before slamming into the weak spot!

The opening rapidly tore further apart, soon consuming or overlapping the peak as Xiao Mang descended with a huff.

"That should secure our retreat," The man sneered. "It would have been a shame if it was the crowd of our own clansmen plugging the exit that doomed us, eh, Wind Sword?"

Wu Lan Shan narrowed her eyes before everyone grew silent.

"What?" Xiao Mang looked at them. "I—"

His eyes widened with disbelief.

Thousands of Gu Masters, demonic, righteous, and those in between, stopped their initial battle and rushed to the peak, fear and terror painting their expressions!

The famed Chou Jiu was no better!

After all…

"What is that…"

Xiao Mang took a step back, cold sweat oozing from his forehead.

"It can't be…" Wu Lan Shan gulped, already knowing more than her terrified peers.

"A battlefield Killer Move of this scale?" Ku Mo and Wang Xiao were pale as a sheet of paper.

Behind the terrified crowd billowed a wave of red smoke, corroding everything it touched. The entire mountain was crumbling!

Flying was not an option since the sudden blanket of red smoke conjured similar to a dome that even killed thousands of falcons!

*Swoosh*

Wu Lan Shan instantly shot into the Inheritance site, knowing that staying outside was a fool's task. Others were the same.

After all, they came to a soul-numbing and heart-chilling conclusion. Yet, they did not wish to believe it.

A Killer Move encompassing a designated region wasn't unique. But a Killer Move that could cover such a sizeable scale either boasted a Gu Master so rare that his battle prowess transcended the mortal ranks… or worse—a Gu Master who transcended himself.

Drove of Gu Masters entered the Inheritance as those unfortunate enough to fall back were devoured by the smoke, unable to leave an instinct shard, much less a corpse.

However, the billowing smoke didn't enter the Blessed Land and stopped around it—confining it.

'I was too late.' An ethereal brown-haired youth with effeminate features floated amidst the red smoke. 'I can sense Su Shou's soul inside the Blessed Land. Damn it… the Blessed Land will not hold out. Tch. Other Demonic and Lone Immortals also eyed the Blessed Land and will soon discover my move, not to mention the Wu and Tie Clan's immortal. I must swiftly find her and retreat with the daring Junior hosting her soul.'

Shang Mi Zhu's gaze glinted with cold fury as he entered the Blessed Land.

<<<>>>

Jia Clan, Mae Da Mountain.

The competition to determine the next Clan Leader had been postponed for a while. Although the Elders maintained peace… the circumstances were dire.

"So, this is the formation?" Gu Yue Fang Zheng quietly inspected the shroud of purplish liquid blocking the cavern's entrance. The Jia Clan's higher-ups stayed near him. Everyone appeared tensed and cautious. After all, allowing an outsider to enter their Clan's secret cave system was ridiculous.

However, Lord Desolate forced their hands!

"Hmph! You are no wiser judge of a character than you are fit to be a leader, Elder Brother." Jia Gui sneered as the fat on Jia Fu's cheek quivered.

"Let us not breed more conflict," Fang Zheng uttered softly. Everyone heard and followed his words since he was the one to determine the 'clues' that forced Lord Desolate to flee into the cave. The culprit was apparently prepared since he activated a Time Path formation nobody knew about.

A shroud of purplish energy covered the cave through the rocks. The shroud didn't block anyone. However, anyone who entered the blockade without revoking the formation aged rapidly and died within a few seconds!

"What should we do, Brother Fang Zheng?" Jia Gui inquired respectfully.

"I need to be alone," Fang Zheng sighed. "I understand my request might be slightly overbearing. However, I cannot reveal my methods to outsiders."

"This…" Jia Gui and Jia Fu glanced at each other. Despite their conflict, the brothers did not want to further weaken the clan by trusting a third party again.

"Surely we can compensate, Lord Fang Zheng," one of the Elders plastered a sincere smile on his face.

"I'm afraid not," Fang Zheng refuted. "It was already taxing to deduce so much about Old Flaming Beard Keng's murder. The culprit, Lord Desolate, has sensitive information about the Jia Clan and the Inheritance it housed underneath. Brothers, this Inheritance rightfully belongs to the Jia Clan. While willing to assist, I'm also unwilling to expose my methods at any cost. I hope you understand my plight."

Fang Zheng's words made it clear that he stood to gain little. Whether they accepted his request only ensured the Jia Clan's benefit.

"How about this?" Jia Gui interjected. "Let me stay here—"

"I'm sorry," Fang Zheng's tone turned colder. "A Time Path inheritance is not suitable for me. Therefore, nothing within the Jia Clan can compensate for the exposure of my methods."

"We shall accept Lord Fang Zheng's words," Jia Fu suddenly nodded. "I hope you manage to dismantle the formation. We tried and failed."

Jia Gui bit his words and sighed.

Fang Zheng could predict Jia Fu's thought process. The Gu Master's desire to capture Lord Desolate was several times higher than winning the competition since failing the former objective meant Jia Fu would never be popular enough to become the next Clan Leader. While the collective group could have tried to force Fang Zheng, it was not a logical decision since everybody lost in that scenario except the culprit.

Besides, Fang Zheng discovered the formation in the first place. The mutated Tree Spirit could have stayed quiet and deceived the Jia Clan but chose to inform them and reveal everything.

So, Fang Zheng had earned the Jia Clan's trust.

"Huff. I thought they'd never leave." Lu Zuan Feng materialized beside Fang Zheng before staring at the formation.

"How confident are you in dealing with the formation?" The Divine Thief inquired with a dark expression. "I never expected the Inheritance to have such measures… whatever the Inheritance has must be excellent!"

"This formation?" Fang Zheng sneered. "I cannot break it."

"What?" Lu Zuan Feng blinked. "Then… wait…"

"Indeed," Fang Zheng sighed. "You managed to get information on a surprisingly extraordinary inheritance, Divine Thief."

"Then we have no choice of getting this inheritance?" Lu Zuan Feng frowned. "It's probably not an Immortal Treasure, or it would have attracted other Immortals. However, it could be something close. You need to find a way to dismantle the Inheritance. We can work together. I'm somewhat proficient in bypassing formations, too."

"Go ahead," Fang Zheng shrugged. "I already deduced a few things, including the fact that the so-called formation is actually a gentle stream of the River of Time."

"What?" Divine Thief grew alarmed. His heart quaked, and the color drained from his face.

"The actual formation is around Lord Desolate to resist the aging effect of the River of Time," Fang Zheng hummed with a cold expression.

"So, there is nothing we can do?" The Divine Thief was unwilling to accept defeat and let someone else steal the treasure from under his nose.

"There might be something…" Fang Zheng appeared thoughtful. "Look, the cave never aged despite housing the swirl of the River of Time. Whoever left the inheritance made sure it did not affect the Inheritance site. So, the inorganic materials are untouched. But we also saw how one of the Elders, covered in clothes, rapidly aged and turned to dust alongside his clothes."

"So?" The Divine Thief crossed his arms. "The Formation must have some targeting system. Instead of differentiating between non-organic and organic material, it must be instead targeting… wait, you said the formation was centered around Lord Desolate. Are there two formations?"

"No," Fang Zheng shook his head. "There is one Formation that protects Lord Desolate. However, I noticed something when the previous Elder died. The effects of the River of Time were concentrated on the man. Currently, the shroud of the River of Time can be considered idle. The formation works to defend Lord Desolate and turn any outsider a target for the River of Time!"

"That's stupid," Lu Zuan Feng shook his head. "The formation already bears the burden of the River of Time acting around Lord Desolate. Why would it spare its limited resources to point to a specific target?"

"To share that burden," Fang Zheng suddenly smiled. "The portion of the River of Time is a deterring force to outsiders AND a threat to the Inheritor. So, it's likely a test for the inheritor. The act of the formation targeting external threats can have two purposes."

"First, it could mean that the portion of the River of Time is limited. Every attack on an external threat reduces its power and will eventually expose Lord Desolate."

"Second… if the first assumption is correct, losing the River of Time is another test for Lord Desolate. The activation of the Formation was very conspicuous, and I predict it was like that to attract attention. So the Inheritance site is rigged with an escape route or a method to deal with the enemies."

"Assumptions…" Lu Zuan Feng smiled coldly. "I see. So there was also that psychological pressure. Ordinary Gu Masters would be stumped, but you could already form such theories. Hehe, impressive. I suppose there is only one way to test it."

"Human sacrifice," Lu Zuan Feng uttered with a cruel look.

"Domestic animals," Fang Zheng nodded simultaneously before both froze.

Fang Zheng's quiet gaze pinned the Divine Thief until the latter scoffed.

"Spare me the judgment," he rolled his eyes. "You know I've done shit. But sure, I'll quickly steal some cows and chickens… apparently, that's all my skills are worth these days."

The Divine Thief disappeared.

Fang Zheng sighed before glancing at the blocked entrance.

'Lord Desolate…'

His instincts were alarmed for a while…

'Something still isn't right…' Fang Zheng thinned his lips.

***

THE MEME