Three days in Hu Immortal Blessed Land's time meant twelve days in Immemorial Desolate Grotto-Heaven. Lo Jik had requested for three days fully expecting it to be countered by Fairy Yi with a shorter duration. But the lack of urgency from Fairy Yi contrasted with Bai Qing's persistence. It was clear to Lo Jik that this event sparked another brief but undoubtedly intense competition among the two opposing factions in Spirit Affinity House, one led by the wisdom path gu immortal Xu Hao and the other by the sound path gu immortal, Feng Jiu Ge.
Fairy Yi, as far as Lo Jik observed, happened to fall in neither of these camps. She was the sect's second-most crucial figure after the first supreme elder and could not allow herself to fall into factions without forcing first supreme elder to do the same. Competition in every single level of authority, after all, was not productive, and these two rank 8 gu immortals were well-aware of it.
As for depending on Fairy Yi for his survival after being given the mission to explore Bai La's dream realm? Lo Jik wasn't muddleheaded yet. He could never submit his survival to another's control… not willingly.
Twelve days were enough, Lo Jik planned. Though slightly rushed, it was enough to understand everything about the dream realm.
Lo Jik's understanding of dream path has always remained rudimentary at best even if he possessed the greatest dream path set possible in the current generation alongside a large number of Dreamer gu worms.
He knew about self-dream realms.
He knew it was possible to get lost in these realms and fail to snap out of it even after becoming self-aware.
He knew these dream-realms corroded the soul and were also filled with dream path materials used to refine dream path gu worms.
There were other types of dream realms, too.
With his experience using Dreamer Gu, Lo Jik realized some dream realms were not part of oneself. Some dream realms were also not fashioned from a gu master's memory but were entirely abstract and simply too dangerous. He knew it was easy to get hurt in dream realms, which greatly harmed the soul of the dream skipper.
Today, because of Bai La, Lo Jik got to know that dream realms also manifested in the real world. They were tangible and could snare any individual near them. According to Fairy Yi, these dream realms were far more dangerous!
Say, Lo Jik got hit in a self-dream realm. The injuries incurred from such an event wouldn't compare to the near-death state he would be left in if he got injured in the dream realms that were powerful enough to become tangible and materialize in the physical plane of existence.
The difference existed due to one concept—dao marks.
The difference between a self-dream realm and a tangible dream realm was the same as a mortal and immortal gu refinement materials. Lo Jik was not sufficiently equipped to handle all that.
While Fairy Yi ensured his survival… Lo Jik also believed it wouldn't be so simple. There were no clues for it, but his screaming instincts demanded caution. His stomach had twisted into a knot ever since he saw that manifested dream realm.
Lo Jik was met with another intriguing event when he returned to his grotto-heaven.
<<<>>>
In Lo Jik's hand sat a rank 5 gu worm of sentimental origins. It resembled a beetle with sharp ends and a fat body, feeling like a jade to the touch and blue in color.
Rank 5 Second Aperture Gu.
While it was challenging for Lo Jik to deduce immortal gu recipes, it was barely an inconvenience to go the opposite route and use an immortal gu worm's recipe to refine a mortal gu worm. Second Aperture Immortal Gu Worm's recipe survived alongside Lo Jik after Ba Gui Blessed Land's destruction. It was a legendary gu worm that could form another aperture for a gu master to cultivate!
Lo Jik, after studying the recipe several times, concluded it was also a human path gu worm. As such, he wanted to refine a mortal rank 5 Second Aperture Gu and use the recipe for the immortal variant in his immortal ascension to successfully refine another rank 6 human path immortal gu worm.
However, his deductions were partially incorrect.
Only after refining a Second Aperture Gu did Lo Jik realize that this gu worm belonged to another path and displayed human path effects.
Surprisingly enough, using the Scan the Dao killer move revealed that the Second Aperture Gu belonged to the same group of gu worms as Lifespan Gu. Similar dao marks could also be perceived in Heaven's Will, Heaven Strength, and—to a minor extent—every living being be it humans, animals, and plants.
Another mysterious path, Lo Jik had salivated after refining the mortal Second Aperture Gu.
Sure, it meant he could not use the recipe for rank 6 Second Aperture Immortal Gu to refine another immortal gu worm during his ascension but he could at least pierce through the mystery of Lifespan Gu by feeding Second Aperture Gu to Dreamer Gu in several batches and increase his attainment of said path.
He could even deduce a recipe for Lifespan Gu like he did with the Relic Gu series after becoming a human path great grandmaster.
Would that not mean making the world dance at his fingertips?
Lifespan Gu was the single-most outstanding gu worm to extend one's lifespan. It had no side-effects unlike other life-extension methods! Every gu immortal greatly treasured the chance of extending their lives because becoming a gu immortal did not change their core identity. They were still humans—living beings with limited lifespans!
Unfortunately…
"You cannot explore these dreams." Lo Jik read the statement aloud. Dreamer Gu worms could not converse until reaching rank 6, or so one of the dreamer clones informed. Back then, Lo Jik knew very little about dream path and accepted the facts as is. Now, however, he understood it was the limitation of Dreamer Gu that he obtained through his trait. It did not imply that Lo Jik could not refine a dream path clone better than Dreamer Gu—a gu worm that could transform into a clone capable of verbal communication.
Not that it mattered.
Lo Jik instead focused on this change.
Dreamer Gu clones unable to explore any dream realms even after consuming hundreds of rank 5 Second Aperture Gu coupled with the revelation of the materialization of dream realms through Bai La's incident provided Lo Jik with enough clues to deduce and restructure his understanding of dream path.
It was inevitable.
Dream path was an emerging force, something that was already being investigated and invested into by super forces like the Ten Ancient Sects. Lo Jik wouldn't dare claim he understood the entirety of this path.
So, new discoveries compelled him to take time and ponder on such changes.
And that was his next step.
Lo Jik ordered Old Man Desolate to keep an eye on Treasure Yellow Heaven in case Old Man Lang Ya pops up again while also making his Dreamer Gu clones focus on digesting rank 5 Shape Luck Gu worms being produced at a consistent pace by an army of dedicated hairy men.
He entered Pool of Wisdom to expedite his understanding of dream path.
After all, he only had twelve days.
Every single moment mattered.
Not a single second must be wasted.
Only hours later did Lo Jik truly discover the use of Dreamer Clone Gu without any excessive excitement.
All along, Dreamer Gu explained its use was to dream.
And that was true.
Dreamer Gu dreamt.
Refiner Gu also refined.
Schemer Gu schemed.
Martial Artist Gu fought.
Wine Drinker Gu brewed.
Hairy Man Gu refined.
Rockman Gu dug.
But they had certain specialties not to be considered as their use.
Refiner and Hairy Man Gu could naturally increase the rate of success when refining gu worms. Martial Artist's body was tough and compared to many strength path gu masters and even a few beast emperors. Wine Drinker Gu could taste a wine and soon brew a copy of it with enough materials.
Lo Jik often wondered about Dreamer Gu. He knew he missed something critical about this gu worm. Its use, nurturing, and refinement were all combined! It was an outstanding human path gu worm with dream path effects.
He finally comprehended the truth.
Dreamer Gu explored the dreams created from the gu worms it digested, or so Lo Jik believed based on his previous understanding.
However, this fact changed once it was unable to explore dreams related to Second Aperture Gu.
Why?
Why could it not create dream realms from Second Aperture Gu even after consuming so many of them?
Because Dreamer Gu never created dream realms… it summoned them.
No…
Lo Jik's eyes gleamed with understanding.
'The consciousness of Dreamer Gu clone skips to the location of the appropriate dream realms when it sleeps! Simply put, a Dreamer Gu can enter a self-dream and other forms of dream realm when sleeping. The only reason it cannot explore the dream realms from Second Aperture Gu is the fact that they do not exist. Or rather, the appropriate dream realms do not exist.'
Dreamer Gu encountered challenging gu worms based on how it used up the gu worm in its aperture. Low-ranked gu worms led Dreamer Gu to simpler dream realms. But if Dreamer Gu clone used a high-ranked gu worm and completely used it up at once, it would encounter a more challenging and subsequently more rewarding dream realm. That's how Lo Jik's attainments skyrocketed.
'Dreamer Gu has always been exploring dream realms that already existed. Fairy Yi said that the dream realm manifested around Bai La is equivalent to the immortal version of things when compared with self-dream realms. I suspect that the ordinary use of Dreamer Gu won't be enough to explore such dream realms using mortal gu worms alone. It needs a killer move.'
'Other dream realms of similar quality must exist in the gu world if there's already one around Bai La. The dream path has already appeared through tribulations, so it must have enough foundation in the gu world in the first place.'
'A killer move might allow Dreamer Gu to consume several rank 5 gu worms at once and target a materialized dream realm instead of weaker dream realms yet to manifest in the gu world.' He guessed.
'But… I'm unaware of the dangers of such dream realms.' Lo Jik sighed. 'I didn't want to be rushed into this decision. It's not optimal. However, it is also a warning. I might not get enough opportunities to prepare later on.'
He had already made a decision.
'I must—'
<<<>>>
"It's time for me to become a rank 6 gu immortal," Black Moon declared calmly. She was a mysterious woman, undeterred even against rank 8 gu immortals like Fairy Yi, much less her current audience—Xu Hao and Li Jun Ying.
They weren't present physically in Hu Immortal Blessed Land and had their missions to complete. The Ten Ancient Sects were overlord of Central Continent and occupied about 80% of its resources. As such the supreme elders were always completing missions to protect their sect's interests while also cultivating. A mission like overlooking and developing a blessed land was considered a cushy promotion for most rank 6 gu immortals.
Fairy Mi Yao, a gu immortal favoring Feng Jiu Ge's interests, currently enjoyed the mission of overlooking Hu Immortal Blessed Land.
Xu Hao and Li Jun Ying, though separate from each other, also continued communicating with each other before dissuading Black Moon's urges.
"Junior Sister." Li Jun Ying giggled, addressing Black Moon warmly. "You are already appointed as the sect's fairy. We all will contribute to the creation of the record of your ascension in time. Your performance in the convention was truly outstanding and won over almost every sect disciple. Unfortunately… sigh."
The bewitching woman exhaled sadly. Her beauty and expression could move kingdoms and kings and queens alike. However, Black Moon's gaze remained clear and sharp. Li Jun Ying continued after a brief pause.
"You know what is going on in the sect. Fairy Bai La of our faction fell into this… dream realm. Dream path is quite mysterious and hints towards the emergence of the prophesized Great Dream Immortal Venerable. This is a great calamity and fortune for our faction, Junior Sister."
"Indeed." Xu Hao added calmly. "We are all investing a lot of resources to sustain Fairy Bai La. This is an opportunity to discover more about the dream path than we could ever learn from Fairy Yi. But it is also a great calamity because Fairy Bai La's death would be a grave loss for our faction."
"Fairy Bai La is incapacitated." Black Moon hummed. "And Fairy Mi Yao currently overlooks Hu Immortal Blessed Land. That is quite an inconvenience for our faction, Elder Xu. Becoming a gu immortal publicly is just the first step. I shall shoulder this blessed land's responsibilities until Fairy Bai La recovers and keep Elder Feng Jiu Ge from gaining more benefits."
Xu Hao's smile deepened slightly.
"Rest assured, Fairy Black Moon. That Feng is already running circles trying to find a method of recovering Feng Jin Huang. He might show a calm exterior on the surface and remain inside the sect's public blessed land, but how can he not be worried for his daughter. He also paid a lot of resources to borrow Spirit Affinity House and asking Fairy Yi to create the formation around Dang Hun Mountain. Feng Jiu Ge simply does not have the resources to contend against us."
"Exactly, Junior Sister." Li Jun Ying, better known as Illusory Fairy, smiled. "Fairy Bai La holds nothing but disgusts towards Feng Jiu Ge. However, he cannot share that sentiment because of his wife. He would do anything for Fairy Bai Qing and his daughter and Fairy Bai La is equally important to his wife. Hehe, Bai Qing truly harmed her husband this time."
Black Moon narrowed her eyes and shook her head, speaking with overflowing resolve.
"Your insight is keen, elders. But look at the circumstances from a different angle. Feng Jiu Ge currently commands the sect's only rank 8 immortal gu house. The formation around Dang Hun Mountain connects the soul refinement ability of Spirit Affinity House with the Guts Gu growing in Dang Hun Mountain. Who's to say Fairy Bai Qing isn't using this chance to improve the foundation of her soul at a breakneck pace? We cannot let them get the better of us."
"What if Feng Jiu Ge use Spirit Affinity House against us? He might have returned to the headquarters, but as you said, how can we predict his true thoughts? He might already be scheming against us."
"Furthermore, what if Feng Jiu Ge's kindness turns Fairy Bai La against us? After all, he spared no expense this time."
Li Jun Ying laughed lightly.
"That is impossible, Junior Sister Black Moon."
"Nothing is impossible," insisted Black Moon. "Why can't a Bai La change when a Feng Jiu Ge did?"
Their surroundings turned tense as Black Moon observed the immortal couple. The latter duo said nothing and maintained their smiles.
"Are you going back on your word?" Black Moon demanded calmly.
"That is not appropriate, Junior Sister." Li Jun Ying pouted and appeared offended. "How can you think that about your big brother and sister? Of course, we are not going back on our promises. However, our hands are truly tied. We are doing this for your sake, Junior Sister. Other gu immortals won't welcome you kindly if you take this moment to undermine Sister Bai La and take over Hu Immortal Blessed Land."
The woman appeared thoughtful and smiled.
"How about this, Junior Sister? We shall help Sister Bai La recover and arrange your mission for the blessed land at the same time."
Black Moon sneered under her mask and remarked calmly.
"Do you think you two can swallow benefits without coughing up an appropriate price?" She crossed her arm and pinned the couple with a frigid glare. "I have decided. Figure out the details yourself."
Xu Hao frowned but kept quiet. He didn't speak unnecessarily after noticing Black Moon's resolve and nodded.
"It seems we cannot help you see reason, Fairy Black Moon. I hope you know what you are doing." Xu Hao ended the communication with a soft smile followed by Li Jun Ying.
While polite the entire time, Black Moon could imagine the gears in Xu Hao's head churning sinister schemes.
"It seems your act of gaining autonomy did not skip their observation." Fairy Mo sighed in Black Moon's mind. "They will suppress you quite a bit, lass."
"He was nothing before Feng Jiu Ge, he was nothing when Feng Jiu Ge emerged, and he will remain nothing." Black Moon snorted coldly. "They say they are expending all their resources to sustain Bai La. However, they are spending more resources to obstruct Feng Jiu Ge and his wife. They managed to borrow Spirit Affinity House, but the gu house itself was completely cleaned out of its stored inventory. They are all simply trying to earn as much as possible while Feng Jiu Ge is forced to cough up more and more resources."
"As for dream path… hmph!" Black Moon appeared thoughtful. "It can be useful for our plans. But how can a new path be improved and cultivated so quickly? Xu Hao and Li Jun Ying have grand schemes but they failed consistently. So what if they saw through my scheme? It is in their best interest to support me till we achieve our objectives."
"I will have my choice of missions once I ascend as a gu immortal publicly—including the job of overlooking this blessed land."
"Dang Hun Mountain isn't your end goal." Fairy Mo criticized such rashness.
"It's the first step." Black Moon agreed, acting oblivious to Fairy Mo's tone. "I need to amass more strength and wealth. Staying under Xu Hao will not help me attain our goals."
***
Alternate Title: Another wave of schemes and conflicts; Suppressing the Feng Faction; Three days of grace; Leisurely Fairy Yi; A race for preparation; Helpless Dreamer Gu; Another mysterious path; Mortal Second Aperture Gu; Dangers of manifested dream realms; Portable dream wings be like; Resolve; The next step; Planning ahead; Deducing the truth; Change in perception; Black Moon's action; Surging luck path attainment; The secrets of Dreamer Gu; Planning Bai La's downfall
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