"You were hasty, Elder Tian." There was no accusation or disappointment in the voice. The speaker radiated a sense of unfettered calmness, a sensation yet elusive to the already well-regarded Rank 7 Gu Immortal Tian Zhenli, the Heavenly Informant.
The illustrious supreme elder sat before a significantly young man. Both shared the green of their hair, but Heavenly Informant didn't dare object to factual criticism from the sect's first supreme elder. While there was only a difference of one rank between the two supreme elders, there was a reason why the Rank 8 Gu Immortals reigned supreme on the continent, only one man known to rise to challenge the monstrous might held back by the curtain of righteousness, if only for a few moves.
And that was the sect's very concern.
"If your information is correct, then finding difficulties with this Bai Shou is the same as challenging…"
The name was left unspoken, but the weight of that individual's presence was unavoidably substantial.
"Feng Jiu Ge…" Heavenly Informant nodded, assuring his superior. "I don't intend to create issues for the sect, especially during such a tense moment. Spirit Affinity House is now in control of a Secluded Domain of Heaven and Earth."
"Hmm." The first supreme elder nodded. He looked like a teenage boy, his features smooth and sharp. However, the elder's eyes were filled with wisdom and lacked any impatience associated with a young age.
"How much do you know?" Questioned the first elder.
"About Bai Shou?"
First Elder's nod prompted Heavenly Information to explain. "I have been unable to ascertain her origins and Spirit Affinity House's interest in her."
The interest in a creature valued by Spirit Affinity House to the point of sending Feng Jiu Ge to ensure her admission into their folds clearly intrigued the first elder as he appeared thoughtful before inquiring. "Did you utilize all your methods?"
Heavenly Informant grew silent.
"You are the sect's only Information Path Gu Immortal, Heavenly Informant."
"I would dare not claim to be the best in deducing and searching for intel, First Elder," Heavenly Informant replied humbly, his head lowered.
"It is not a matter of being the best but assuming responsibility. You discovered that person before Spirit Affinity House, yet they successfully took her away. Furthermore, you left behind crucial hints. Your hand in stirring Spirit Affinity House also forced them to reveal evidence of your involvement in a mortal blood path inheritance."
Heavenly Informant recalled his blood path discovery.
It was a rank 5 blood path gu worm with slight information path aspects, capable of targeting a few individuals. Being an experienced Rank 7 Gu Immortal, Heavenly Informant saw through the formation using some immortal materials. He knew about the final test where all the blood path beasts were expected to escape the site and evolve into a blood tide.
It was for that reason Heavenly Informant predicted Bai Shou's death was a heavenly mandate due to how fitting his newly refined blood path gu happened to be. Using that gu worm, Heavenly Informant placed a target on Bai Shou and Qin Juan, forcing the blood path beasts to attack them instead of running away.
What should have led to mortals' demise instead became their fortune. Bai Shou single-handedly defeated the blood tide and attained an inheritance.
Meanwhile, Feng Jiu Ge being able to discover his trace was not weird. After all, Feng Jiu Ge also left his means with Qin Juan. The Illusion Wisps that Qin Juan saw, the very same ones hinting at the inheritance site, were left by Feng Jiu Ge.
Heavenly Informant spoke calmly.
"I understand, Senior. I will either have more answers prepared to be used as leverage against Spirit Affinity House or appropriate assets to compensate the sect for the troubles I caused."
They were all intelligent, and the First Elder couldn't help but nod after seeing Heavenly Informant assume responsibility.
'I would have had more information about Bai Shou if I could leave more gu worms behind to view the gu worms she used to deal with the blood tide.'
Heavenly Informant mused as he returned to his residence, his heart stable and unhesitant. He had been unable to gather everything about the curious mortal due to Feng Jiu Ge's presence. He also hadn't been able to spy on Bai Shou when she remained in Yuan Yang City due to the defenses left by Spirit Affinity House. It was a city near the resource point controlled by that sect, and alerting their Gu Immortal was the same as putting an early recruitment notice on Bai Shou's back.
'Hmm. I already collected several bundles of intel from all continents. There were mentions of a few different gu masters named Bai Shou. Only one of them was a Strength Path Gu Master from the Western Desert. However, that man is only a rank 3 demonic gu master. Speaking of the strength path, Bai Shou attained an ancient inheritance and used a few notable steed gu.'
Heavenly Informant combed through his sources, trying to find any matches.
'Wu Ji from the Southern Borders, also known as the Empress. She used a set centered around Borrow Strength Gu but was killed when a deteriorating Blessed Land suddenly attracted a Demonic Gu Immortal. Everyone inside that Blessed Land was killed, and the Shang Clan's Shang Mi Zhu killed that demon before managing to escape the winds of assimilation. Ho. How many resources does the Shang Clan have in hiding? To think they possessed such methods.'
'Oh, Lo Jik? Also called the Little Giant King.'
The Rank 7 Gu Immortal instantly grew interested. After all, Lo Jik and Bai Shou shared several gu worms in their set, including the Blood River Python and Thousand Li Earthwolf Spider. However, that concentration faded once he realized everyone in that Blessed Land died.
He wouldn't have had such thoughts had he witnessed Bai Shou use the Last Arrow.
'Rank 5 Lord Desolate fled with an Immortal Gu…'
'Another pair of Rank 5 Gu Masters connected with Old Man Yue Xia are on the run due to accusations from the Shang Clan.'
Heavenly Informant blinked. He had conducted several transactions with the Rank 7 Phantom Path Gu Immortal, Old Man Yue Xia. To think the Shang Clan would take such a tough stance against this unorthodox opponent was weird and attracted his curiosity.
'And to think a mortal got an Immortal Gu.'
Heavenly Informant invariably focused on Lord Desolate.
Soon, he sighed.
'Just what is happening in the Southern Borders?'
Unable to find a suitable match that fit Bai Shou's profile, Heavenly Informant grew quiet and meditated for a few minutes.
It was time for a decision.
'Should I use my killer move?'
He recalled Jiu Loong Long and Jiu Loong Jin. The former wasn't fit for his inheritance, but the latter exceeded his expectations, inventing a new killer move which even inspired the Rank 7 Gu Immortal.
'Using Rank 5 Heaven's Will, Rank 5 Heaven's Gaze, Rank 4 Whisper, and Rank 4 Past Tale to form an incomplete killer move—Heaven's Story Time. It's slightly like my killer move. However, Jiu Loong Jin hadn't been able to properly combine the shard of dao related to the time path within Heaven's Gaze and Past Tale to perfect the killer move.'
'Heaven's Story Time allowed that child to peer into past movements and sounds, using the Heaven's Will Gu as the medium to listen to the clues.'
'Ah, Heaven's Will Gu. Such an ancient product of ingenuity.'
Heavenly Informant exhaled another sigh, feeling pity for his inability to refine the Rank 5 Heaven's Will Gu Worm's immortal variant.
'Is it not my time? Am I not fated for it?'
His mind quietened down. A decision was already formed.
'Bai Shou should not have survived my scheme.'
Like Feng Jiu Ge, Heavenly Informant would not ignore his intuition. Bai Shou's ability to avoid just that intended end concerned the Rank 7 Gu Immortal more than he cared to admit.
His surroundings experienced a torrent of pressure suddenly escaping his being before all of it surged back into him.
Orbs of heavenly blue light emerged from his pores before extending and connecting to form silken, glowing threads. These threads wrapped Heavenly Informant, overlapping each other until he was nothing more than a glowing, spherical cocoon.
Killer Move: Heavenly Informant.
Nothing happened.
There were no flashes of light.
Heavenly Informant's surroundings did not crumble or turn to ashes in a sea of flames.
The sky did not tremble, and the mountain beneath his residence did not erupt.
The glowing orb dispersed into motes of light, leaving the Gu Immortal with a clue related to his queries, albeit with a horrible cost.
Heavenly Informant sensed all the mortal gu worms in the killer move breaking apart, while the Immortal Gu used as the core of the killer move was grievously injured.
His heart bled at the sight of such a scar.
'I cannot use this Killer Move until I recover from the financial loss.'
He sighed.
'But I understand it now.'
The clue left by his killer move also exposed Spirit Affinity House's capabilities to a certain degree.
<<<>>>
"Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"Yes, what?"
"Yes, I understand, Archbishop."
Calling the cathedral's interior a feat of architectural beauty and a dream would be an understatement, its intricate details reflecting in Williams' awe-struck hues. Dressed in white and gold, the colors of the Church of the Glorious Sun, Williams snuck into their ranks. His aim?
The next Sun Priestess.
"You will guard the Priestess' life with yours," the archbishop repeated, his aged voice gravely and tainted with the taste of many pious worshipers, that much Williams investigated. After all, he had to.
Church of the Glorious Sun was the single most concentrated power after the World Federation's fall at the hands of the rebel Cowl. Traits, being the mysterious sources of power they were, forced Williams to investigate every member directly related to the next Sun Priestess.
"I will do everything in my power to protect her," Williams answered honestly, expertly hiding his true motives. As he continued, the archbishop's face grew clearer. The pounds of fat accrued on his body ruined what could have been a warm face of welcome and kindness. Instead, the folds of flesh and several chins forced his eyes to appear beadier than usual, his thick lips stretching into an ugly smile at Williams's words.
"Even if I end up offering my life."
*Ting*
"Good."
They both heard a bell-like noise.
"My trait is active," the archbishop informed. "Refusing to comply with such terms would alert me to your betrayal. Though I'm confident that would not come to pass. You were trained by the church for this very moment."
Williams was not trained, at least not by the church. But that did not stop him from asking for Kaye's assistance in infiltrating the church's ranks before that emotionless gamer went ahead with his suicide to see if reincarnation was real or not.
His surroundings grew clearer.
"Now, go. Acquaint yourself with the priestess. She must be returning from her studies."
"Yes."
Williams offered the church's characteristic salute before turning on his heels and leaving through the connected hallway.
'I'm in a dream.'
Bai Shou was alert this time, ready to shatter the dream the second she felt its pull.
The use of Dreamer Gu Worms exposed Bai Shou to a sense of nonsensical dreams loosely based on the gu worms they consumed. For instance, using the Strength Path Beast Phantom Gu formed dreams about said beast, their bodies twisting erratically and forced into an eternal conflict until they managed to learn the secrets to the beasts' strength and emerge victorious. Losing in such dreams, or incurring any injuries for that matter, directly impacted the soul.
Meanwhile, the other form of dreams emerged from Bai Shou's memories and experiences, best used for the collection and refinement of several dream-type gu worms and materials.
'Was I pulled in again?'
She recalled Kaye and Nina's first sight.
'My body doesn't have any aperture either.'
Bai Shou focused on Williams' body, feeling oddly empty in two regions.
'This kind of dream is slightly different based on my arrival. I need to be careful—'
Williams' body quaked as he noticed a tall, brown-haired man stepping through the hall.
He bolted forward, hands clenched and eyes uncharacteristically haunting. Williams lacked his charm and wit, currently acting on beastly instincts cultivated in both his lifetimes. His surroundings grew extraordinarily clear.
For once, he ignored the dark-skinned brunette walking beside the man, the Sun Priestess. Hate overpowered a sense of sweetness and bitterness that Williams didn't know how to accurately define.
The wind, the sun, and his surroundings responded to the violent tides of hatred in his heart.
"Kenny!"
Williams growled; fist cocked as the other party stayed rooted with a shocked expression.
"Stop it!"
Williams' breath hitched, his fist mere centimeters from that perfect face, which was tense with fear and alarm. His eyes met her golden orbs.
"Logic?"
There was confusion in those eyes, her full lips parting slightly.
A dream…
Bai Shou returned, shaken.
"It's you!" The woman grinned. "You asshole! We made it!"
Shatter Dream.
Bai Shou's eyes snapped open as a sharp exhale left her breasts.
"Was it you?" she breathed greedily, her features controlled enough not to betray the fright consuming her heart.
Clicking her tongue, Bai Shou inspected her surroundings before examining her body, mind, and soul.
'Fuck.' She cursed. The sudden captivity of the dream consumed what little advancement she had in reinforcing her soul. All that progress, which was excruciatingly slow from the beginning, was gone.
'I need to quickly advance my soul path attainment or seek a decent inheritance, but both these tasks are easier said than done. Even if not immediate, there are several threats around me no worse than that crackhead of a Gu Immortal that struck in Ba Gui Blessed Land. I cannot use Dreamer Gu inside the Empty Cube Gu for two reasons.'
'First, it is a Space Path House Gu and will interfere with the Dreamer Gu Worm's activity. Second, this is only an initial defense alongside the formation outside my residence. Peering through these things and invading my privacy would be easy for any interested Gu Immortal.'
'These parties currently celebrate my Human Path aspirations alongside something mysterious which they have yet to reveal. I cannot reveal more than anticipated, or it would have the opposite effect.'
Bai Shou was very clear about these things in her heart.
But…
Mo Yan's revival…
That pair of starry eyes that formed using Heaven's Will Gu…
Constant dreams about Nina…
And now Nina, who was too alive…
All these mysteries and events continued forcing a lump down Bai Shou's heart, threatening to rattle her.
If she could handle all this alone, then so be it.
However, Bai Shou was beginning to understand that these matters might be beyond her means.
But an alliance with a superior party was not an option.
Her options ranged from someone as challenged as Jirou Yi to Yang Pao, Wang Nan, Qin Juan, Di Qing, and Shu Zhe.
She did not consider Elder Ya or Nu Wu because they were too stable or extreme of an element, respectively.
'So, what if I have an ally?'
She sighed finally.
'None of them has anything superior to offer.'
'And a Gu Immortal?'
She smiled wryly.
Bai Shou did not have enough pull or leverage to demand their assistance.
'Even if I can't have their help, I have to ensure they don't obstruct my path.'
'An ally for that purpose is possible…'
'There is only one person I'm certain who possesses a connection with a Gu Immortal—Qin Juan's Senior Sister.'
'What was her name?'
'Hmm. Legacy Disciple Feng Jin Huang.'
'Qin Juan hasn't returned yet. Let's focus on the next best option until then.'
She had hoped to delay the meeting a bit longer to make the other party impatient, but Bai Shou now knew she couldn't delay things with Shu Zhe. She needed to expand into another avenue of growth and find a way to gain soul path research material, at least, or a complete inheritance at most. If she had to be pulled into such dreams, then her soul's robustness was a top priority!
***
Alternate Title: Tian Zhenli; Immortal's Concern; Feng Jiu Ge Glaze Is Real; Fanharem Wouldn't Be Fanharem Without Glazing Feng Jiu Ge; Heavenly Informant Killer Move; Crucial Clue; Luck?; Bai Shou And Lo Jik; Mayhem In Southern Border; Information Path Benefits; Quick Information; Searching For Clues; Talented Jiu Loong Jin; Spirit Affinity House's Advantages; Williams And Levi: Kenny!; Separated By Fandom, United By Hatred Against Kenny; Another AOT Reference; Bai Shou's Fortunes and Misfortunes; For Every Lucky Encounter Exists a Complicated Dream Realm Related To The Sun Priestess Nina; Alive?; What's Real?; Lost Gains; Bai Shou Moves; Decisions; Stacked Mystery; Bai Shou Needs The Scooby Gang To Solve All This Mess; Bai Shou Wanna Be Qin Juan's Step-Senior Sister; No More Delays; Ah, Yes, The Crackhead Immortal Shang Mi Zhu; Shang Mi Zhu, The Face of Righteousness; The Immortals In The Background; The Recipe For Man-Beast Burial Gu Exists Because of a Righteous Gu Immortal; The Strange Blood Path Gu Worm; What Creature Can Defy Heaven's Will; A Startling Clue
***
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