Bai Shou returned to the spot where the unconscious rockmen lay face first against the ground, inspecting them deeply. She'd formed a poison vow with Feng Jin Huang and began the task without further distraction—one of the many conditions stated by the owner of the blessed land who, undoubtedly, found Qin Juan's and Bai Shou's steamy courtship a temporary inconvenience.
After some time, Bai Shou settled down cross-legged and closed her eyes, deducing.
Technically, using enslavement path gu worms was the best method to achieve what Feng Jin Huang desired. However, Bai Shou also understood its limitations. The business model here wasn't the creation of a supply chain and distribution pathways but a killer move! Some killer moves showed their brilliance in battles, and a few others shone in matters of cultivation of resources.
Bai Shou believed that in the long history of gu master, someone must have already invented a killer move capable of leaving a more lasting mark on a slave's soul, further binding their offsprings. But who would sell such a good thing? Even Bai Shou refused to sell her creation to Feng Jin Huang should she succeed and negotiated fiercely to maintain an active role in the business.
Thankfully, she wasn't in a world where innovation and creativity were concentrated in the hands of a few. Gu Immortals were surely more intuitive about their respective paths compared to mortals and managed to invent several killer moves. In fact, it was reasonable. Every gu immortal was an unheard talent with outstanding skills or superb fortune to ever reach their transcendent position. How could they not be fueled with creativity and a mind thirsting after the wonders of the Dao?
But many mortals were also equally talented.
Bai Shou would have never accepted this thankless task if she didn't already have a method.
What Feng Jin Huang desired was a 'soft' domination on the rockmen tribe. Didn't it sound familiar?
Was there not a shocking method, which bypassed Bai Shou's bottom line, by leaving an imprint on the target's soul with such finesse that the target themselves ignored the fact they were enslaved?
Vital Human Killer Move!
Hu Mei Er suffered a backlash using this killer move and found her existence inexplicably linked with Bai Shou's. The scariest fact about this killer move was how Hu Mei Er openly admitted being affected by said backlash, a consequence which should have terrified her, but instead appeared even more loving and swooning. It was a killer move that thoroughly changed the target's mind and soul.
Bai Shou knew a lot about this killer move. At least, she was aware of the extent of its mortal methods.
Vital Human Killer Move could be used on a person or an inanimate existence, like a mountain or a lake. Furthermore, when used on a human, this killer move had extensive benefits, from being able to share soul foundation, memories, dao marks, primeval essence and more. In essence, Hu Mei Er's unique 'aura' was thoroughly overtaken by Bai Shou's signature aura.
It touched the concept of Bone Flesh Unity Gu. This gu worm allowed a pair of gu masters to dual cultivate by converting one's essence using the aura of the second party's aperture. Without this conversion, the absorbed primeval essence would shake and hurt the aperture, leaving long-lasting consequences.
Instead of this temporary conversion, Vital Human Killer Move achieved something more horrific.
Hu Mei Er existed as a person, yes. She had her mind and soul, her own thoughts and emotions. She was spiritual and unlike other enslaved beings, who could only accept their master's whims, Hu Mei Er was different. She could oppose Bai Shou if she believed her actions stemmed from sincere concern for the latter.
However, her cultivation wasn't her own.
In the eyes of the grand dao, she was Bai Shou, too!
And Bai Shou believed the method to create a business out of selling rockmen lay in this killer move. Earlier before, Bai Shou didn't spend more importance on this killer move. She wasn't the type to brainwash someone for her trait and didn't get any opportunity to build a slave establishment.
Now?
It would be a shame not to comprehend Vital Human Killer Move more.
So, Bai Shou quietly deduced.
Once used on a human being, the target's cultivation belonged to the user. In Bai Shou's case, due to the backlash, it was Hu Mei Er's foundation that belonged to the former. Aside from soul foundation and primeval essence, the user needed a set of killer moves to extract the target's cultivation.
Bai Shou was aware about these recipes and methods.
She focused on everything related to the soul because of how the rockmen reproduced.
Like a statue, Bai Shou didn't move for a day and night. Only when she needed to refresh herself and eat something did she move.
Then, she returned to her session.
The more she explored the Vital Human Killer Move, the more she believed in the human path's ability to facilitate a method of dual cultivation that was more like Chen Jiu's methods and not as complicated as Hu Mei Er's inheritance.
But dual cultivation wasn't Bai Shou's current primary focus.
The soul and everything she knew about rockmen, including their internal structure from the records offered by Particle Viewing Gu.
Her attainment in soul and enslavement paths were only ordinary—slightly above the gu masters taking their early steps in these methods.
However, her attainment in human path was different. She possessed a master-level attainment due to Dreamer Gu, but Bai Shou had spent a lot of time and focus on this Dao. Her growth had been immense, and the inspirations she achieved were nothing to scoff at.
From the beginning, she sought ways to advance in human path—from the early acts of replacing materials with a more replenishable source, humans, to the later act of modifying and refining different brands of same human path gu worms. Furthermore, Bai Shou spent a month deducing several killer moves using the few human path gu worms in her possession. Granted, many of them were still in their initial stage and concept, but it was remarkable progress.
Firmly believing her intuition, Bai Shou kept thinking about different methods and solutions.
Few days flew by. Bai Shou's routine was painfully simplistic.
It wasn't until she spent two weeks on the matter that she exhaled loudly, smiling despite her self-control.
Bai Shou wanted to deduce a killer move to enslave the rockmen in such a way that even their offsprings remained under control.
Instead, Bai Shou's mind ended up taking a detour.
'So, that's the right path for Fake Mind Gu. I never needed any theft path materials.'
Bai Shou chuckled, calling loudly.
"O' Land Spirit! I have made slight breakthrough. As per the agreement, I would like to request three sets of the required materials."
Requesting a reasonable number of materials was also part of Bai Shou's agreement as long as she didn't lie about them and worked towards the completion of the business model.
Indeed, she did not lie.
Fake Mind was necessary for the desired objective—at least, that's what Bai Shou believed to her best knowledge and instincts.
<<<>>>
A fist-sized orb illuminated the slightly dim room, fluctuating and releasing a multi-colored light. Bai Shou observed the ball of light, cautious but also expectant. The makeshift refinement chamber was a mess. Lanterns lay shattered around Bai Shou, with burnt marks on the walls and pointed blades sticking out from the ceiling.
Bai Shou's earlier attempts had failed gloriously. Even now, she hadn't let up the use of Rank 5 Stable Cauldron. She also couldn't throw caution to the wind and use her refinement path killer move. First, it was an outstanding trump card, better to be preserved until the Refinement Path Convention. Second, Bai Shou could suffer a grave backlash if she used it while refining a gu worm for the first time.
Again, this was no modification of a gu refinement recipe. Bai Shou took careful steps in the dark, already failing a few more times. Using the refinement path killer move might cause the core gu worms to be destroyed in the backlash! It would be a haunting loss for Bai Shou.
To her surprise, the orb steadily condensed, forming into a rank 1 gu worm.
Success!
Bai Shou felt thrilled but maintained a neutral expression. The backlash from earlier failures targeted her mind, leaving her exhausted. She couldn't even use the wisdom path healing gu worm in her second aperture, fearing it might expose it to the observant land spirit.
'But I succeeded!'
Bai Shou sighed softly and inspected the gu worm.
It looked like a fly without any wings, rubbing its claws together.
'Is this it?'
Her lips were dried and cracked, caked with slight blood. Though tired, her eyes gleamed with intrigue and desire.
Smoke-like light purple primeval essence gathered on Bai Shou's fingers, entering the rank 1 gu worm, activating it instantly.
The next moment, the rank 1 nameless gu worm disappeared, turning into an arc of light, entering Bai Shou's forehead and disappearing into her brain.
However, she instantly felt the effects appearing elsewhere.
'This is not what I wanted.'
She couldn't help but sigh after experiencing the effects of the consumable gu worm. What Bai Shou wanted was something more mystical. Instead, she felt the nameless gu worm create a 'pocket' in her mind.
The topic of mind was interlinked with the soul. Even without a brain, many ghosts and souls could think and retain their memories. It was the reason why soul searching prevailed when torturing someone for information. Sure, wisdom path gu masters could possess finer methods, but it was the soul that was the source of thinking. Possessing a body reinforced the creation of thoughts, and the brain was often modified by wisdom path gu masters to store more thoughts, improve the generation of thoughts, and such.
One of these gu worms was Rank 4 Four Hearts Connected Mind Gu.
What this gu worm did was divide the 'mind' into four different sections, allowing a gu master to focus on four different complex actions at once. At a glance, it resembled Rank 4 Four Tasks at Once or Four Fusions at Once. However, Four Hearts Connected Mind Gu was more precious than that.
The division of the mind generated equal thoughts, each section capable of using a set of gu worms and killer moves! Such a gu worm made a wisdom gu master more than a passive threat! Unfortunately, it was an extinct gu worm. Wisdom path was already rarer and more mysterious than other paths. Locating its recipe was a ridiculous dream at best.
'But this rank 1 gu worm… created an additional pocket.'
Bai Shou narrowed her eyes. While this wasn't the effect she looked forward to, she was nonetheless curious about this gu worm's use.
'Let's try this.'
Bai Shou diverted several brave thoughts into the pocket after noticing it did not generate any thoughts despite being anchored to her mind.
The pocket couldn't sustain more than a hundred brave thoughts. Bai Shou hurriedly stopped once she sensed the pocket almost collapsing.
Bai Shou then confirmed a delightful speculation.
'It's unaffected by the use of Rank 5 Purple Blood Gu.'
Bai Shou's organs, including her brain, was modified using Rank 5 Purple Blood Gu. It restricted and constrained the use of gu worms capable of generating thoughts related to other paths. Similarly, Bai Shou couldn't use wisdom path gu worms to further modify her brain or heart without injuring herself in the process due to a backlash.
But this strange rank 1 gu worm wasn't affected!
After a moment, Bai Shou extracted the brave thoughts and transferred blue tadpole-like derivation thoughts, generated from rank 3 Derivation Mind Gu, to the pocket.
Her gaze brightened.
'They are… moving freely!'
Previously, each use of derivation thoughts was burdened with conflict against the modification of her brain. Now?
Bai Shou instantly derived several new notions about her earlier bottlenecks and consumed all the derivation thoughts within a few breaths!
'Amazing…'
Bai Shou blinked.
Too amazing!
'Human Path really doesn't share the usual dao marks conflict experienced by gu worms and methods of other paths!' Bai Shou snickered internally.
'But this is only the effects of rank 1… hmm… Pocket Mind? Nah. Sounds like pocket pussy. Anchor Mind…'
Bai Shou decided, not spending more than a few thoughts on naming the gu worm.
'Anchor Mind it is.'
'Also…' She noticed something else. 'The new anchored mind seems to exist without needing additional support, but it is incredibly frail. Trying to put another thought after its limit will lead to the additional mind collapsing on itself.'
'But this is not Fake Mind.'
Bai Shou didn't think about advancing this gu recipe. No. It was a very successful first step forward and Bai Shou intended to refine that gu worm!
"What was the result?"
Feng Jin Huang inquired once Bai Shou cleaned herself and stepped out.
"Not as good as I expected," Bai Shou replied honestly. Feng Jin Huang and Qin Juan waited for her. Of course, Bai Shou had already been introduced to the land spirit and their third sister, Sun Yao.
"This experience was necessary." Bai Shou added after a moment. "I'm confident about our success. I just need more time and materials."
"Hmph!" Feng Jin Huang narrowed her eyes. "Don't forget that these materials will be added to your debt unless you succeed."
"Don't worry." Bai Shou also scoffed before boldly holding Qin Juan by her waist, planting a loving peck, and exiting the hall without looking back.
Feng Jin Huang glanced at Qin Juan.
Qin Juan blinked and looked away.
Feng Jin Huang's gaze sharpened, her presence growing slightly overbearing and demanding.
Meanwhile, Qin Juan cleared her throat and looked down.
"Um…" Junior Sister finally lost the battle of awkward silence. "I'm sure Senior Sister Feng will also meet someone slutty—Ah! No, I meant—"
Feng Jin Huang's expression was already dark as she clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"Stop flaunting in front of me!" She berated her junior sister.
"We just kissed…" Qin Juan pouted and walked alongside Feng Jin Huang. "There's nothing to flaunt about that. It would be different if we did more, but Sister Bai Shou is so busy these days."
This time, Qin Juan began glaring at Feng Jin Huang, who breezily ignored all that and moved with lighter steps.
<<<>>>
"How are your injuries, Brother Xu?" Fairy Bai La spoke with a comforting expression, not displaying the temper she held against Feng Jiu Ge. She was largely a pragmatic gu immortal, like several other gu immortals. Even when she sided with Xu Hao's Anti-Feng Faction, she did not let her superficial distaste for her son-in-law strain her relationship with her daughter.
Xu Hao knew this well enough but didn't allow it to sour his business with Bai La. She held a decent share in producing a few rare rank 6 metal path materials. Some of these materials were also the required food for Xu Hao's gu worms. Furthermore, Xu Hao would have been more cautious of Bai La if she was heartless enough to shun Bai Qing off. It was also for the same reason why Xu Hao considered Shu Ye's defection less of a blow to the Feng Alliance compared to killing Bai Shou off.
Shu Ye's reputation wasn't the best and she was also an elder recruited from the outside, unlike Xu Hao, who was raised and nurtured by the sect.
As for removing Bai Shou?
That ship had long sailed.
With the recent attention Bai Shou garnered and a direct order from the First Supreme Elder discreetly warning everyone to suspend their usual underhanded tactics, Xu Hao was bound and helpless.
Even now, Xu Hao couldn't believe just Bai Shou accidentally entering a dream realm would be enough to alarm First Supreme Elder in such a manner.
'However, dreams are surprisingly dangerous.'
Xu Hao recalled the damage he suffered, shuddering internally.
"I recovered well, Fairy Bai." Xu Hao replied with a smile. The duo's exchange was cordial and light, their surroundings uplifted by the light scent of a rare incense. A large window on the side wall displayed the scene of the dream-like Dang Hun Mountain surrounded by lush greenery. Surprisingly, they were at the same height as Dang Hun's peak. However, there was only one mountain in the entire blessed land!
This house was floating in the sky like a cloud—Rank 5 Cloud Hut Gu!
After a while, Bai La perked up and chuckled.
"It's starting again."
"Hmm." Xu Hao nodded, more interested than usual. He simultaneously experienced a complicated emotion.
Xu Hao wasn't fickle minded, and his heart was set in stone to remove Bai Shou. However, it was also because of that junior's scary talents he found himself benefiting slightly.
Bai Shou's creations were often subjected to scrutiny and curious investigation.
She proved her talents consistently, and the recent Anchor Mind Gu resembled a few gu worms Xu Hao came across in his early years. Unlike Bai Shou's assessment, Xu Hao had a broader view and incomparably greater experience. He was also different from lone rank 7 gu immortals like Imaginative Strength.
With the resources of the grand ancient sect, Xu Hao possessed many rare and extinct gu worms, Rank 4 Four Hearts Connected Mind Gu being one of them. Still, Xu Hao valued Rank 1 Anchor Mind Gu because of its ability to invoke inspiration.
As Bai Shou grew more outstanding, Xu Hao's killing intent deepened.
"How many times has it already been?" Bai La asked casually, watching Bai Shou extract a Thousand-Year Wise Turtle's soul. Thousand-Year Wise Turtle was a mutated turtle beast with rank 4 battle strength. It was valued even more due to the wisdom path gu worms it attracted. Bai La, at Feng Jin Huang's request, had to acquire a batch of these mutated beasts from one of the sellers hailing from Eastern Seas.
But she did not consider it a loss. After all, she was also learning Bai Shou's recipe and creative process. Any gu immortal could look down on a mortal's power. But only a foolish and power-drunk gu immortal would look down on anybody's ingenuity.
"Bai Shou failed twenty-three times already. However, her enhanced soul foundation allowed her to keep going. The injuries already accumulated to the point of reducing her soul foundation to a mere 15-Man Soul," answered Xu Hao, momentarily appreciating Bai Shou's grit and resolve. Such determination could be used against Bai Shou! He could tamper with many materials and smoothly take out Bai Shou.
Not now…
Later.
"At least, she doesn't give up easy," Bai La commented plainly. "Though, she's already wasted three months. At some point, we must know when to pick our battles."
"Isn't it fine?" Xu Hao chuckled. "We watched the entire process. Some gu worms are always nasty when stuck in this creation process. Whatever this gu worm is, Bai Shou's refinement process changed consistently. It started from refining a rank 3 gu worm, then it was improved to rank 4, and now rank 5."
Bai La sighed.
"Some gu worms are not created at lower ranks. Of course, it could also be due to Bai Shou's lacking intuition and attainment. Still, she is better than most."
"Do you think she can do it?" Xu Hao questioned casually, but Bai La never lowered her guard.
"Wouldn't it be something if she does?" Bai La chuckled, not giving a proper answer.
*Boom*
Right at this instant, they watched Bai Shou failing again. With a soft groan, Bai Shou collapsed on her back but held onto her consciousness.
"Hmph!" Seeing this, Xu Hao snorted.
"Most of her secrets are already known." Bai La giggled, a hint of amusement in her shimmering blue eyes. "Sigh, youngsters these days. Does she truly believe her identity as an Otherworldly Demon is something to be killed for? However, her caution is also understandable."
"Not even her memories of her previous life are a secret."
Xu Hao laughed softly, his expression easing. He had been caught in a weird dream realm, acting as an individual named Ke Ni. There, he caught glimpses of Bai Shou, or as he called the name, Wi Lam Lo Jik.
But Xu Hao paid them no attention. The dream was fragmented for him. He was in constant movement and sometimes forced to endure lasting darkness. He also left many details from his report and desired to soul search Bai Shou and understand how that reincarnation technique worked.
Yet, Xu Hao was also prepared to let go this blunt approach and transact with Bai Shou.
'I'll get my chance soon.'
Xu Hao nodded to himself.
He was only interested in that strange reincarnation technique to confirm whether it contained any nugget of inspiration, allowing him to create a decent life-extension method.
Xu Hao and Bai La watched Bai Shou cursing furiously and destroying the room in her wrath.
"It seems she reached her limit." Bai La sighed and used her investigation method. "Her soul foundation returned to its ordinary state. She will need to spend a lot of time to recover or… heh, beg Huang'er to enter Dang Hun Mountain."
Xu Hao nodded, agreeing with Bai La's words.
"A shame." He also sighed.
"At least, that junior has a bottom line," Xu Hao spoke meaningfully after a moment, his eyes narrowing with a calculative look. "Else, we would have to make her life more difficult. Some demons need to experience several obstructions to refine their willful temper."
"I shall take my temporary leave, Brother Xu."
Bai La spoke once Xu Hao gathered the colorful smoke transmitting the events of Bai Shou's refinement chamber.
"Of course." Xu Hao promised. "No harm shall come to this blessed land or your family. I'll make sure of that."
Bai La didn't say anything and left with a knowing smile which didn't quite reach the warning look in her eyes.
On surface, Bai La was a rank 6 gu immortal and had little to no immediate threat to a rank 7 gu immortal like Xu Hao. However, Bai La's foundation was firm, and an all-out conflict would leave the Anti-Feng Faction weak. Meanwhile, the Feng Faction would happily absorb Bai La into their ranks.
'But now that she is leaving… I can make my move.'
Xu Hao snorted.
Bai La was several times more difficult to deal with compared to her daughter. Bai Qing was a decent gu immortal with a good foundation. But Bai La's daughter focused more on Feng Jin Huang than Bai Shou, and that was a big mistake. Even Feng Jiu Ge paid more attention to Bai Shou and would not have allowed her to remain in Hu Immortal Blessed Land if not for her accidental slip into a dream realm, prompting First Supreme Elder to place Bai Shou in her current location—near Dang Hun Mountain.
***
Alternate Title: Rank 9 Achievement: Pocket Pussy Gu; Human Path Madness; Crucial Vital Human Killer Move; Anchor Mind; Peak Naming Sense?; Comprehension; One Thing Leads to Another; Failed Fake Mind; Taking Firm and Admirable Steps in Establishing Human Path Supremacy; Free the Tadpoles; Bai Shou Releases her Swimmers; Annoyed Feng Jin Huang; The Future Cock Blocking Demon Venerable; Qin Juan's Annoyance; Qin Juan Torn Between Tearing Off Senior Brother Bai Shou's Clothes or Tearing Senior Sister Feng; Gossiping With Eyes; Qin Juan: Sister Bai Shou is so Busy! We're Still on First Base *Feng Jin Huang: Evil Palpatine Cackle*; Bai Shou With Feng Jin Huang's Resources: Unlimited Powah; Observing Gu Immortals; Xu Hao's Killing Intent; Reincarnation Technique; Bai La's Departure; Empathizing Bai La; Bai La With Everyone Else: Casual and Collected *Bai La With Feng Jiu Ge: Your Mother Should Have Wrapped the Cord Around Your Neck*; Bai La at the Thought of Feng Jiu Ge Smashing Her Daughter: The World Shall Know Pain *Bai La With the Result of Said Smashing: Oh, Dear. Oh, Dear. My Sweet Granddaughter*; Xu Hao's Chance
***
Join the discord through the link in the synopsis.
Read 60 chapters ahead @ Patron and Subscribe Star (Links in the synopsis.)
Support the Fanfic through comments, likes, reviews and such (if the published site allows it.)