Bai Shou didn't talk much the next three days. Despite being upset, she tried spending time with Shu Zhe and Qin Juan before isolating herself, sitting cross-legged across the unconscious rockmen. These rockmen were out cold for months, but they were not in any immediate danger.
Rockmen possessed extremely long lifespan and lived up to 1000 years!
It had been three months since Bai Shou began deducing a better recipe after refining the rank 1 Anchor Mind Gu. Her situation was several times better. Previously, she was a wanderer trying to navigate an extreme dark maze. Thick fog covered her vision, blocking the steps forward, leading Bai Shou to several traps and pitfalls.
Anchor Mind represented a small lantern. Now, Bai Shou could see a few steps ahead. Even though time-consuming, the more efficient use of derivation thoughts allowed Bai Shou to deduce a decent recipe.
However, she failed.
Time and again—
She failed.
'And I love this taste of failure.'
Bai Shou thought, her eyes closed. She was frowning, looking very distressed. To onlookers, Bai Shou looked no different from a defeated talent, learning to reevaluate their position in the world after some terrible setbacks.
But how could failing in gu refinement affect Bai Shou's heart?
More terrible tribulations had already refined her resolve. She wouldn't crumble even if she suffered consistent defeat for century and more.
Fortune, however, was on her side.
Or rather, she was skilled enough to not feel helpless.
'Still.' Bai Shou sighed sincerely. 'I miss the feeling of an enhanced soul.'
With a better foundation, Bai Shou felt refining gu worms more pleasing. Her thoughts were clearer and quicker. After experiencing the heavenly feeling of enhanced soul foundation, Bai Shou's current soul felt it was surrounded by mud. Her thoughts were comparably slower and less energetic.
'It was worth it.'
Bai Shou didn't mourn the loss of her soul foundation.
Why?
It had something to do with Bai Shou's mind.
At a glance, or even with a deeper investigation, Bai Shou's mind and brain appeared normal. Only she could sense the hidden changes.
She didn't fail.
Sure, she had to fail in the eyes of the observing gu immortals and the land spirit. It was the only way in her arsenal to keep her method and trump cards a secret. No matter who was selected to look over her, Bai Shou knew they would be very perceptive. So, she had to fail her refinement for real, risking her life with every failed gu refinement, hurting her soul foundation. But she succeeded three times, not hurting her soul foundation but using it to finalize the refinement.
Fake Mind… it was a success!
Always aware of being under surveillance and unwilling to even leave a hint of the fact she wanted to his something, Bai Shou used herself in the recipe again. However, there were a few complications. First, Bai Shou couldn't do things the same way she advanced her body refinement. That was too bold and open. Second, she needed to put her observer's mind at ease, enforcing the belief that the gu worm she initially wanted was a failure at every turn.
For this, Bai Shou studied rank 5 Preservation Gu Worm's recipe a great deal. That gu worm was refined only when the gu master failed successfully. The exact same concept couldn't be used to solve Bai Shou's current issue, but it proved to be the much-needed reference material, helping her materialize a recipe which failed yet used her soul foundation to consolidate the intended effects of Fake Mind Gu!
Unlike Bai La's assessment, Fake Mind Gu did not start at rank 5.
This gu worm series started from Rank 3.
Rank 3 Fake Mind was like Anchor Mind in the way it could host ten thousand thoughts generated by a gu worm. But it did not create a pocket. Instead, Fake Mind layered Bai Shou's brain and mind, creating a new, lifelike, and most importantly, hidden canvas for thoughts to swim, collide, and produce ideas.
But Bai Shou wasn't satisfied.
Rank 4 Fake Mind took things to another step. Now, Bai Shou's fake mind generated thoughts like Bai Shou's actual mind!
Yet, she discovered an issue.
Fake Mind Gu could not mimic the real mind.
The so-called mind was made of divine sense and heart sense. One's brain also contributed to the better activity of the mind. Rank 4 Fake Mind mimicked this function but failed to achieve something crucial.
That's right—Body Modification.
Bai Shou's brain was altered and was suited for Brave Thoughts Gu. Whenever she used Derivation Thoughts Gu, the derivation thoughts she generated not only felt sluggish, but they also consumed a greater number of thoughts for the simplest of things!
This was the natural conflict between different paths. Bai Shou was already in exhilaration after confirming the human path did not experience such conflicts since the derivation thoughts in her fake mind did not slow down and revealed better results.
However, Bai Shou's fake mind was still fragile. Only after the most recent failure and without further excuses to stubbornly charge forth once her soul required rest did Bai Shou achieve great success.
Rank 5 Fake Mind.
It left mysterious marks on her brain and mind.
The best way to explain her current state was that Fake Mind Gu was also a body modification gu. It layered her mind and brain and not create a new brain or mind inside Bai Shou. That would have been shocking and easily noticeable!
Inside Bai Shou's mind swam two different thoughts.
Brave Thoughts and Derivation Thoughts.
Under Bai Shou's control, the two thoughts suddenly charged at each other but couldn't collide no matter how hard she tried. Their collision wouldn't achieve anything fruitful and might even cause her a headache. However, they wouldn't touch each other! Furthermore, even if Bai Shou could see them at once, anyone observing her mind or brain would only notice the brave thoughts!
This is how Fake Mind divided things. It did not generate separate space but layered discreetly! Only Bai Shou could perceive the two different layers—one hidden and one exposed.
And again, the new layer mimicked the real thing.
What did that mean?
A complex emotion bloomed in Bai Shou's heart.
She fretted over this aspect for so long. Not only had her desires left her to face devastating consequences, but Bai Shou had even recently let go of her obsession.
Yet, she was like a helpless blade of grass, forced to sway with the carefree gusts of coincidences and fickle luck.
'I can use refinement path methods to modify my brain and mind, at least, the layer created by rank 5 Fake Mind. It allows me to host two different but complete methods.'
She concluded quietly.
'Dual Cultivation.'
Momentary remorse filled Bai Shou. If only she'd known all this before…
If only…
'Sigh. What use is regret and remorse?'
How could she have ever imagined and obsessed over dual cultivation before encountering Chen Jiu. Furthermore, she took drastic steps and constantly encountered various problems, solving which helped Bai Shou reach her current stage. All her victories and losses led her to this point—and both were equally valuable.
Bai Shou quietly chided herself and focused on this incredible success. It was a grand achievement, which should have left her complete and satisfied. But she couldn't muster any joy.
Her heart grew inexplicably calm.
'The second I let go I happen to return to my previous path. Fake Mind also proves my path isn't wrong.'
'Two apertures. Three paths. One Body.'
'This is the way.'
Human Path, at least for dual cultivation, was like a thin gauze separating refinement and strength path.
'But if I'm not careful, I can still experience this friction between the two paths, causing disastrous losses.'
Bai Shou gently opened her eyes. To any observer, she appeared at peace after spending a long time focusing on her recent failures.
She smiled, her expression tranquil and serene.
<<<>>>
"See? You were worried for nothing." Feng Jin Huang sighed, secretly relieved. Bai Shou was indeed talented, and her grit was shocking. The injuries to the soul were not only painful but incredibly draining, leaving a gu master tired, nauseous, and spiritually exhausted for a long time. One even ran the risk of turning into a vegetable. She never imagined Bai Shou to be so stubborn.
But it also made sense.
Despite her shameless nature, Bai Shou was a talented genius, and such breeds of gu masters were deeply proud. Just because Bai Shou acted like a floozy did not mean she wasn't a proud son of heaven.
Qin Juan sighed softly, equally relieved.
Sun Yao glanced between the screen and her two senior sisters.
The screen displayed Bai Shou adopting a peaceful expression and meditating across the rock formation.
'I didn't know Senior Sister Qin Juan also liked Sister Bai Shou. And she also likes Elder Shu Zhe… did she learn these things from Senior Sister Feng?' Sun Yao pondered. 'Is it something necessary to learn to become as outstanding as them?'
"Ah! Master!"
The land spirit cried out in shock.
"I just noticed this scene is tampered with. What is happening? I can't find Bai Shou at all!"
Feng Jin Huang's expression instantly changed.
"Where is my mother?" She questioned anxiously, instantly realizing anyone capable of tampering with the land spirit's methods could not be a mortal. So, Feng Jin Haung thought about asking Bai Qing for backup.
"She is cultivating inside Dang Hun Mountain, Master."
Feng Jin Huang gritted her teeth.
'Grandmother also left recently. It must be that bastard!'
"Senior Sister!" Qin Juan called out worriedly as Feng Jin Huang grunted and stood up.
"Take me there, Little Hu. The rest of you stay put. I won't be in any immediate danger with Little Hu."
<<<>>>
Bai Shou's tranquil smile didn't change even when she watched a familiar figure descend. She calmly stood from the ground and bowed deeply, speaking clearly.
"My deepest respects, Lord Supreme Elder. I beg for your forgiveness regarding my earlier actions."
This gu immortal was the same individual Bai Shou when she woke from her dream roughly eight months ago.
"Rise, Disciple Bai." The unknown gu immortal smiled gently. He looked like a nobleman, his eyes glowing with approval. However, his next words cut right to the chase, revealing he did not care enough to beat around the bush.
Or rather, Bai Shou, a mortal, did not have a high enough status to make him more courteous.
"I often get confused with names. But someone of your talents must not remain nameless. Tell me, Disciple Bai. What should I call you? Bai Shou?"
He pressed gently.
"Gu Yue Lo Jik?"
Bai Shou's eyelids briefly trembled. She never expected to remain hidden forever. That was why she wished to enter an Ancient Sect, using a massive background to tackle Shang Clan if they ever reached her. But things didn't go her way, and her recruitment into the sect was accompanied by a huge commotion among the higher-ups.
But the gu immortal's next words shook her to her core.
"Or was it Wi Lam Lo Jik?"
His accent was off, but those words were hauntingly… English.
Bai Shou's throat ran dry as she stayed rooted.
Chuckling at her inner turmoil, the unknown gu immortal walked slowly, circling the shocked Bai Shou.
"Worry not. Your secret is safe with me." He lied. Bai Shou would grow incomparably calm and free if she realized other supreme elders also knew about her identity as an otherworldly demon and didn't care about it. Xu Hao wanted Bai Shou to worry and fear. How else would he use her?
"But your other secrets…" he smiled meaningfully. "You must have had quite an adventure." He poked, hoping to pry some information.
"I was under the impression Shang Clan's elder, Shang Mi Zhu failed to save everyone inside Ba Gui Blessed Land."
"How did you survive?" Xu Hao questioned rhetorically, his gaze suddenly sharpening.
"Are you the demonic gu immortal Shang Mi Zhu claimed to have attacked everyone inside Ba Gui Blessed Land."
Bai Shou couldn't answer for a while before shaking her head slowly.
"I… I died."
Xu Hao raised his eyebrow. He was using an investigation killer move to catch any lies. Even if Bai Shou spoke the truth, he sensed there was more to her answer. However, her matters didn't interest Xu Hao at the moment. With First Supreme Elder's explicit orders, he couldn't scheme against Bai Shou or conspire with outer forces like the Shang Clan to deal with her.
'Maybe a lifesaving gu worm.' Xu Hao moved on.
"I see." He hummed. "But you didn't answer me, Disciple. What should I call you? And are you truly a demonic gu immortal?"
Bai Shou snorted internally. What kind of a question was that? Would this unknown gu immortal actually ask a demonic gu immortal such a thing? This man was either sure she wasn't such a demonic gu immortal or couldn't do anything to her even if she was, hoping to act after an explicit admission.
'So, that was the story they used for Ba Gui's destruction?' Bai Shou sighed. 'Or it's another lie.'
"This disciple doesn't dare command you, Lord Supreme Elder. Call me whatever you wish!" Bai Shou bowed again, speaking emotionally. "I'm worse than a dog for lying to sect and spitting on all your faces! I'm shit! How can shit be anything comparable to divine existences like a gu immortal?"
Xu Hao narrowed his eyes and scoffed.
He didn't have enough time to play with words.
"Give me a good reason why I shouldn't reveal your secrets to everyone. Are you aware what happens to your kind?"
Bai Shou paused and questioned with a weird expression.
"Women?"
Xu Hao smiled darkly.
"Otherworldly Demons. That's what you are, Gu Yue Lo Jik. You are not from this world! You are a disease to this world."
Bai Shou pursed her lips.
"I shall forget your mistakes," Xu Hao spoke after a moment. "How could a child like you comprehend the mystery of the world? You didn't ask to be born in this world, right?"
He suddenly glared at Bai Shou, releasing a sharp, suffocating intent.
"Or did you?" He questioned pointedly.
It was another killer move, almost capable of killing Bai Shou by suffocating her. She collapsed on the ground, coughing loudly, once Xu Hao released the killer move.
'So… this is how it is.'
Bai Shou wheezed, her expression turning gloomy.
She was being manipulated from the beginning!
Xu Hao was indeed a wisdom path gu immortal. However, like every other wisdom path gu immortal, he shared the same weakness of being unprepared for the things he had no clue about. He planned for Bai Shou to be subdued by his presence, and for his words to mess with her reasoning. After all, he even used a discreet killer move to hinder Bai Shou's thoughts using his sentences.
However, Bai Shou's mind was incomparably firm, bubbling with exposed brave thoughts and hidden derivation thoughts!
Furthermore, her intuition for schemes was as sharp as they came, being the wisdom path master she was.
How could Xu Hao ever account for all this?
"Even if I did…" Bai Shou whispered, the change in her demeanor shocking Xu Hao. "What are you going to do about it?"
She slowly stood up, matching Xu Hao's gaze.
"What about you?" she asked. "What should I call you?"
"Junior! You dare?!" Xu Hao shouted furiously.
Bai Shou didn't reveal any change even when her mind was struck, thousands of brave thoughts evaporating instantly.
She didn't reply anymore and merely stared at Xu Hao.
The more Xu Hao shouted, the further the disdain in Bai Shou's eyes deepened.
Xu Hao's expression finally changed, and his furious emotions fizzled like it was a dream.
"Very good… Wi Lam… no." Xu Hao worked his jaw before speaking fluently.
"Williams Logic."
Bai Shou's gaze briefly wavered.
"I'm incomparably grateful to Spirit Affinity House for the grace and resources poured into me." Bai Shou bent her waist and cupped her fist.
"And I will happily contribute to the sect. Spirit Affinity House is also my home!"
Their surroundings were pregnant with silence.
Sensing something, Bai Shou looked up, finding a slightly disheveled blond woman standing in that unnamed gu immortal's place.
"What happened?" Feng Jin Huang demanded quickly.
"Nothing?" Bai Shou tilted her head. "I was just practicing how to bow properly."
Her gaze traveled down south before she smirked.
"How about practicing the ancient arts of submission with me, Sister Feng? The more you practice your bowing skills, the less your back will hurt!"
Feng Jin Huang's gaze darkened before she snapped her fingers.
Ground instantly left Bai Shou's feet as she began freefalling again. She couldn't use any gu worm, too.
'Well… this will hurt less than my soul burning from injuries.'
Bai Shou nodded to herself, a reward for job well done.
Of course, she knew Feng Jin Huang wasn't annoyed about her illicit advance but the act of ignoring the elephant in the blessed land—that strange gu immortal.
But how can a mere Feng Jin Huang pry any information from Bai Shou when a famed gu immortal couldn't.
'He really thought he could muddle my mind.' Wind whistled through Bai Shou's ears as she fell freely. After her initial fall during Ba Gui Blessed Land's madness, she had begun enjoying such a fall.
'Everyone already knew about my status as an otherworldly demon. That must have been the crucial reason why Feng Jiu Ge recruited me. My talents in human path must have been of secondary concern. That was why I didn't receive any significant change after revealing a method to refine my body.'
Bai Shou was finally able to understand many things due to the strange gu immortal's mistake.
'They were still cautious of me. I'm an outsider. But eventually, they wished to change things, letting me find my own place and grow comfortable in the sect. The chaos in the sect must have also coincided with the supreme elder's thoughts of sharpening the disciples like a knife against whetstone.'
All of this was speculation, but Bai Shou believed in her instincts.
She grew placid, becoming what Xu Hao considered to be the worst outcome.
'But circumstances turned drastically. I had already carved out a spot for myself as Shu Zhe's consort. Why would they uproot me so bluntly?'
'That dream. They are placing the most importance on dreams or perhaps my survival.'
Bai Shou narrowed her eyes, strands of her constantly whipping her face.
'Not only did I miss the best chance to prevent Shu Zhe from losing her position, I'm almost sure that I also suffered a fatal backlash from the failure of activating Divine Travel Immortal Gu. However, they never found any clue about it. Why? What happened?'
Her gaze flashed darkly.
'What or who tampered with my use of that immortal gu worm? In what world would that strange gu immortal accuse me of being an otherworldly demon and not use it as an excuse to snatch an immortal gu worm for himself?'
She recalled Shen Cui's disappearance and Mo Yan's shocking return.
Unlike before, Bai Shou didn't feel any pressure. There was time when she felt gloomy about all the mystery around her. However, she was different today—for the better, too. It was like a qualitative and mystical change. Her heart no longer felt suffocated. Today's success, and the bold step she took in solving the issue of dual cultivation changed… Williams Logic forever.
Bai Shou's lips curled into a cold smile, her bright eyes staring straight through the blessed land's sky.
'To think I was worried for no reason!'
Bai Shou's lips pulled back into a feral grin.
'Either I live through the shittiest experiences and become better for it, or I die. What use was fearing the unknown?'
A carefree laugh left her mouth, echoing in her surroundings.
'Only now I recall how beautiful this world truly is.'
Bai Shou closed her eyes, a flash of white entering the accompanying darkness.
That brilliantly stupid head of white…
That broad back…
That defiant step towards a certain death…
There was a time when Bai Ning Bing felt closer to Lo Jik as they shared the same sentiment. It could be said Lo Jik affected Bai Ning Bing enough, tempering her wild nature.
However, today, Bai Shou felt closer to Bai Ning Bing.
"Hahahahahaha!"
She loved this fall.
Her heart was as clear as the sky, and as tranquil as a lake.
The fall that once haunted her nightmares felt extremely soothing.
'That mysterious voice when Shang Mi Zhu attacked me, those eyes I saw when using the Heaven's Will Gu, all these slips in the dreams, and the entity behind Mo Yan's and Shen Cui's reappearance…'
Bai Shou steadily approached the ground.
But all she thought of was—
'I wonder how beautiful the sky will be after I rip this storm asunder with my own two fists. All of you...'
Feng Jin Huang watched keenly, her heart momentarily wavering as she heard that carefree laugh echo. Something stirred in her heart. It felt like the laugh reached every corner of the blessed land. Inside her hut, meditating, Shu Zhe smiled gracefully. Qin Juan stepped out of the palace with Sun Yao in tow. The former looked emotional, and the latter was righteously confused.
Bai Qing finally moved from her cultivation spot, momentarily delayed by her personal matters. She came out of Dang Hun Mountain, hearing that laugh. Her expression also changed, eyes glowing with a strange recollection. Meanwhile, Xu Hao's expression was dark and heavy with killing intent. That carefree laugh also reminded him of a certain someone.
A certain…
Demon.
'Do your worst!'
***
Alternate Title: Bai Shou's Masochism Path Must be Studied; Bai Shou AF: No Pain No Gains; For Gains One Must Taketh Pain; Fake Mind Success; Minding Her Own Business; Fake it Till You Make it; The Three Successes; One Step Back, Ten Steps Forward; Bai Shou's Complex Emotions; No Remorse; The Way of Demon; Benefits of Losses; Feng Jin Huang: Calls Bai Shou Son of Heaven *Heaven's Will: No. NO! He's a Son of a Bitch!*; Relieved Girls; Feng Jin Huang's Turmoil; Xu Hao's Miscalculation; A Heart Unshackled; From Chained to Unchained Once Again; A Free Emotion; Bai Shou's Nightmare: Gu Landers Speaking Perfect English; From 'You Have Eyes and Can's See Mt. Tai' to 'You Have a Perfect Eyesight but Cannot Peek at Mt. Tai's Distinguished Peak'; Williams Exposed; Xu Hao's Nightmare; The Worst Outcome; The Proud Pot Calling the Kettle Black; Feng Jin Huang Must Learn the Art of Submission; Sun Yao's Thoughts are Unhinged; Feng Jin Huang and Qin Juan Thinking They Must Protect Their Junior-Most Sister *Meanwhile Sun Yao: I See. Harem is the Orthodox Way*; Bai Shou's Laughter Giving Bai Qing Wet Dreams About Certain Someone and Xu Hao Horrific Flashbacks; Bai Ning Bing is Proud; Crazy Demonic Way is the Right Way
***
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