Every corner and crevice of the Ancient Sect's headquarters, the blessed land, was a sight to behold. Even the less-visited outer ring of the northern lakes was decorated with lush forests and countless beautiful fireflies glimmering like delicate stars under the artificial essence moon in the night sky. Blessed Lands ordinarily did not display celestial changes and had a fixed sky. However, the supreme elders worked hard and greatly raised the quality of the sect's ground to its current level.
*Shk*
A keen and quiet noise slipped through the forest, leaving countless cuts on trees, shrubs, and the ground. Hundreds of fireflies' corpses fell on the ground, surgically bisected without a hint of mercy. The noise moved ahead with a singular purpose: to cut. Strangely enough, whatever the noise slashed through did not further increase the noise.
Like a venomous cobra, the deadly noise flew past several trees and fireflies before emerging into a clearing. The rising smoke from the recently doused campfire shuddered and parted ways, followed by a shrill yelp.
Ju Lin watched the left side of her lush locks, which once framed her face, fall onto the ground with a clean cut. Her body was pulled aside at the very last second. The girl shuddered, paling at a pace visible to the naked eye. Her body instinctively used her life-bound vital gu, the rank 1 Jade Skin Gu. A protective film of jade green energy covered her body. However, Ju Lin knew her methods would not hold against the hidden enemy. She felt the protective hand on her shoulder squeeze a bit tighter, causing the Jade Skin Gu in her aperture to tremble momentarily as the defensive barrier around the girl almost shattered, leaving the gu worm injured.
"Now, Lin," Bai Shou began, equally cautious since she could not correctly time the noise's pace, despite noticing its arrival. "Did your Jade Skin Gu give you any warning signs?"
Trying to regain her composure, Ju Lin recalled the brief second her vital gu sent a sudden flare of alarm.
"Y-Yes."
"Always trust that feeling," Bai Shou instructed before calling out in the darkened forest. "Wouldn't you say the same, Brother Wang?"
There was no reply, forcing the Little Giant to exhale tiredly.
"Rumors were true," Bai Shou continued, her eyes darting around. "You do not start any battle using the least effort, as is the established norm amongst our ranks."
Usually, rank 5 gu masters did not go all out at once. They would test their opponents using rank 3 and rank 4 gu worms. In some rare cases, they might use a rank 5 gu worm. However, aspects of combat, like a killer move, were not usually utilized right from the beginning.
Such civility was lost on Wang Nan.
Bai Shou knew about the Rank 4 Whisper Sword Gu. It was a long-ranged offensive gu worm that was not flashy and only left a whisper-like noise wherever it moved. However, the attack was undoubtedly a killer move since the slash even cut the noise of anything it moved past, effectively hiding its tracks!
One move was enough to reveal Wang Nan's prudence and blood lust—a type of enemy Bai Shou unquestionably detested the most.
"Senior Wang?" Ju Lin's lips parted in shock. Why would another outer disciple attack them?
"Well, you were the target since you aren't a disciple," Bai Shou stated. The girl instantly stepped closer to her master.
"We should leave, Master," Ju Lin pleaded, only for Bai Shou to shake her head. "Moving recklessly will weaken our ability to avoid further attacks."
"How long do we stay like this?"
Bai Shou smirked.
Wang Nan was known for his violent temperament. The mask of stoicism could not hide the truth for long. And true to most sword path gu masters, the peak stage rank 5 gu master would try to quench his blade with the enemy's blood.
'The gu worms from the sword path are slightly more troublesome.' Bai Shou narrowed her eyes, instantly noticing another attack. She quickly moved and dragged Ju Lin alongside, dodging wave after wave of whisper slashes. Her timing and precision of evasion grew at a considerable pace, forcing the hidden Wang Nan to stop using the unnamed killer move eventually.
'What else?'
Bai Shou remained alert, not daring to look down on another peak stage rank 5 gu master.
Being an initial stage rank 5 gu master on the surface, Bai Shou could never take on a peak stage rank 5 opponent without tricks, which she was used to since the beginning. Most of her battles were won using several other advantages that were not present in a direct confrontation.
Jiu Loong Jin?
Bai Shou predicted an ambush and countered it, killing Jiu Loong Jin in a single strike.
Jiu Loong Long, the Wisdom Carriage Master?
He was a victim of the Intense Dream Gu Worm, an unorthodox gu worm with no known defenses.
Even before that, Bai Shou relied more on tricks and playing her opponents when the Tie Clan bordered them.
It was clear that Wang Nan was aware of his target's deceitful nature, relying on terrain and his home ground advantage to pressure Bai Shou.
'He kept targeting Ju Lin before.' Bai Shou observed her surroundings. 'Seeing that his killer move doesn't have any immediate effect, he will either get increasingly aggressive or…'
Bai Shou's pupils contracted as she bent her knees and barely avoided a sharp flicker of a starlight slash!
'Or he will attack me.'
"The Lightsaber Gu?!" Ju Lin gasped in recognition. It was another rank 4 gu worm, but it boasted more offensive strength than the Whisper Sword Gu. Sword path gu worms were one of the most offensively inclined paths, boasting extremely destructive strength. This fact could be observed from the fact that Rank 3 Broadsword Light and Sword Shadow Gu Worms were publicly lauded to possess the strongest offensive power.
A head-on collision with such an opponent was not Bai Shou's idea of living a peaceful life of accumulating foundation.
'Even if Master might have a rank 5 gu worm, she could never display the same level of strength as Lord Wang Nan.' Ju Lin's thoughts stirred. 'Master is a refinement path gu master with little foundation in other offensive methods. Furthermore, the output generated using a rank 5 gu worm from a peak stage rank 5 primeval essence must be several times greater than an initial stage rank 5 gu master's attempt using the same gu worm.'
She was already aware of such basics. However, her assumption of Bai Shou being a refinement path gu master was based on the only mask the latter wore most of the time within the sect.
Starlight reflected across Bai Shou's features as she began evading several such long-ranged slashes, each one emerging from a different direction.
'He's quick and quiet,' She observed coldly. Wang Nan's gu set might not be superior to Bai Shou's strength path set in terms of quality and rarity. However, the sword path gu master had a deep foundation. Being in an ancient sect for more than a decade, he meticulously prepared his gu worms into a combat system most compatible with him!
'Fighting with him or Tie Mu Bai would be basically the same.'
Bai Shou grew thoughtful. Letting go of Ju Lin would be the girl's death sentence, an outcome the former wanted to prevent if possible. But Wang Nan's steady onslaught of sharp and dangerous starlight slashes constantly forced Bai Shou and Ju Lin on the move within the small clearing.
Still, they had one advantage.
Bai Shou was not relying on primeval essence to evade the attacks. Her movement gu worm was not called upon even once. Meanwhile, Wang Nan followed the opposite trend.
'How long can you keep this up for?'
Bai Shou smiled coldly. A peak strength path specimen like herself had no shortage of stamina. A battle of attrition was in her favor because the sword path gu worms generally expended more primeval essence due to their exceedingly disastrous power.
However, things changed before Bai Shou could pat herself on the back. A thought suddenly entered her mind, followed by a grave sense of danger.
*Roar*
*Roar*
A tiger's roar and a dragon's cry echoed from her body as she picked Ju Lin before shooting southward.
The Rank 4 Dragon Travel Tiger Steps Gu.
She was nimble and swift, avoiding every obstacle in her path as her senses prickled with extreme danger from behind.
Bai Shou leapt forward, avoiding another attack by the skin of her teeth before running ahead even if it exposed her more than usual.
'What is going on?' Ju Lin's thoughts were in a mess, her helplessness in the situation making things worse. It's not like she could magically reach peak stage rank 5 overnight, right?
The girl's eyes widened once she saw a proud figure crouched over a thin sword. The position was unique, to say the least. It appeared that the tiny silhouette emerging from the essence moon's center was crouched on top of the sword, their soles clasping the flat side of the sword's blade, its tip pointed downwards.
The Rank 5 Sword Leap Gu.
Bai Shou also sensed the change.
The aura of the rank 5 gu worm could not be hidden, like what Wang Nan achieved with the previous gu worms.
The Rank 5 Sword Leap Gu Worm was a movement gu worm where the gu master leapt while being on their swords, like a flea.
[A/N: The Yoshimitsu Sword Jump.]
Their gazes met before Bai Shou instantly paused and avoided the tip of that dangerous sword from stabbing into her head. The Sword Leap Gu might be limited to vertical jumps, but it was astonishingly quick!
'Shit!'
Bai Shou tossed Ju Lin into the air, her shriek echoing through the forest.
A sword light struck Bai Shou, leaving a vertical bloody injury in the center of her torso.
"The rumors were true. You successfully advanced your body refinement rather quickly." Wang Nan narrowed his eyes, no longer stoic. He was in his element: loose, free, and lethal. Had Bai Shou not succeeded in raising her body refinement foundation, the previous attack would have left more than a few centimeters deep wounds.
He looked up, his eyes flashing a cold light.
Sword rays bloomed from his eyeballs before converging into two brilliantly glowing silver points. His gaze observed the airborne Ju Lin.
'This one was also for you.'
He suddenly looked in Bai Shou's direction, halting her charge as the beam of sword light pierced against the woman's fist, tossing her back again.
*Thud*
A jade green light covered Ju Lin before she fell, saving her from any lethal injuries as she groaned despite herself.
'Did she anticipate the formation?' Wang Nan observed Bai Shou, the cold intent veiling his caution.
He was correct.
Bai Shou might not be an expert on the formation path, but she had grown into a role for combat. Wang Nan's earlier attacks might seem dangerous, but he was trying to stall.
There was a formation surrounding the northern lakes, preventing any other invasive species from harming the dragonfish groups. While Wang Nan was persuaded to attack Bai Shou, he also wanted to make things quick and control the formation, at least what little he could, to suppress and kill Bai Shou at once!
That was why he didn't mind the primeval essence expenditure before.
Meanwhile, Bai Shou's expression wasn't good either.
Her wounds still bled despite the usually outstanding Rank 4 Self-Reliance Gu active.
'Wang Nan's current attacks left a few sword path dao marks into my injuries. It must be a rare gu worm. Those marks interfere with Self-Reliance Gu Worm's ability to heal.'
"Why?" Bai Shou questioned plainly.
"Will you submit to your fate if I answer?" Wang Nan questioned back.
The lack of response left a resounding answer as Wang Nan pointed at Ju Lin, a slight echo of a whisper leaving his body.
*Roar*
Bai Shou's body flickered and appeared before the stunned Ju Lin as she intercepted the attack, the noise of dragon and tiger roars shaking the forest, loud enough to conceal the noise of the invisible sword slash on her back.
"Master!" Ju Lin cried in shock, her expression bordering a complex blend of relief and devastation as the sudden respite of life could not overpower the grief of being the cause of Bai Shou's injury.
"We'll work on your evasion skill and combat awareness later," Bai Shou whispered kindly, her expression filled with warmth. She reached out and stroked Ju Lin's head with her bleeding hand before suddenly striking the base of the girl's head.
"Smart," Wang Nan hummed. He didn't move to attack yet as slight recognition bled into his gaze. He might be the enemy currently, but such titles could shift any second. And Bai Shou's act of protecting Ju Lin was nothing short of admirable in the reformed demon's gaze, whose love for his daughter sealed the demonic blood lust in his blade for good. "The girl won't have to witness her death and will go out in peace."
"Well," Bai Shou turned, a surprising smirk on her face. "She's a baggage, Brother Wang. She might as well be quiet for the duration instead of a screaming mess. It's hard to hear and ascertain the direction of your Whisper Sword Gu otherwise."
She continued.
"You do not have to do this, Brother Wang. It's not too late. I can double whatever price was offered for my head."
Wang Nan grew quiet before he exhaled. The peak stage rank 5 gu master looked peaceful for a moment before chuckling.
"Jirou Na offered me two rank 5 gu worms: Hidden Scabbard and Flying Sword."
Bai Shou knew about these gu worms. The Hidden Scabbard was a sword path defensive gu worm, creating an invisible barrier around the user and capable of nullifying all effects of the opposing sword path gu master. The 'Scabbard' series of gu worms was invented to counter the sword path. Meanwhile, the Flying Sword Gu Worm was one of the most popular sword path movement gu, capable of attacks and carrying the gu master through the sky.
"I can refine these and more," Bai Shou offered. "We can set a contract."
"Probably," Wang Nan nodded before his gaze turned sharp. "But you can offer me more than just some gu worms, isn't that right?"
Bai Shou narrowed her eyes.
"I don't understand—"
"Oh, but you do," Wang Nan interjected. "You can fool others and even yourself for some time, Bai Shou. But I knew your kind the second we met."
'Yes, of course you did. Because you were always known for your observant nature.' Bai Shou internally rolled her eyes. She hadn't stopped using the Self-Reliance Gu Worm the entire time and finally noticed some improvements to her injuries. It was an adequate response time, but getting hit by Wang Nan a few more times ensured her death due to blood loss itself.
"You understand the thrill of battle."
Wang Nan's words gave Bai Shou a pause.
'What?'
Deep down, Bai Shou was worried Wang Nan was onto something deeper, like Di Qing. Elder Di Qing was a perceptive woman, capable of momentarily seeing through Bai Shou, at least her regrets. While it was strange enough, Bai Shou had been feeling vulnerable and exposed to a certain extent since her loss in Ba Gui Blessed Land. She was not thinking about being a reasonably open book to the Gu Immortals, but the shift in her own perception.
It was as she discussed with Shu Zhe. A person was nothing more than a reflection of the consequences of one's choices and actions. And recently…
After some strange events around her, no less…
Bai Shou wasn't sure what to make of the reflection gazing back at her. At times, she felt she should feel sad, but there was none of it. And during other moments, relief escaped her grasp. So be it if all of this was psychological. Bai Shou could move on.
However, seeing Mo Yan again…
Hearing Nina's voice…
Bai Shou wasn't sure if she could move on.
All that exposed Bai Shou to a world of unfounded insecurity. Even now, she almost expected Wang Nan, of all people, to speak about understanding and sympathizing due to his personal losses.
'Thrill of battle?' Bai Shou resisted the urge to sigh. Sure, that was good. But it was nowhere near the thrill of, say, getting laid and opening Platinum Rewards inside a blanket the next day!
'I expected too much from a demon.'
"Jirou Na is arguably more powerful than me." Bai Shou emphasized with a helpless smile.
"Maybe," Wang Nan agreed. "But fighting her means dooming my daughter's happiness. She's engaged to Jirou Na's brat. I shall settle for you."
"Promise me one thing," Bai Shou relented. "If I die, you will rub my ashes on your penis and fuck your wife's skeleton."
Why would Bai Shou say such a thing?
Sword light converged before Wang Nan's eyes as several sword phantoms floated behind him. He lost all his levity and allowed unforgiving killing intent to fill their surroundings.
That's why.
Wang Nan's attacks were deadly. However, until now, Bai Shou hadn't revealed the true extent of her abilities. She leapt with Ju Lin in her arms, using the momentum from the Dragon Travel Tiger Steps Gu Worm to cover a considerable distance. It was an unorthodox way of using such a movement gu worm.
Countless sword lights converged and darted at Bai Shou, forcing her on the move.
"You're going nowhere!"
A long ray of sword light tore into the ground, leaving a deep trench and cutting off Bai Shou's escape to the south into the sect's more populated region.
"Someone will arrive due to the commotion!" Bai Shou yelled, hurriedly dodging another attack, her face slightly flushed from exertion. "You're going to make a loss if you act so stubborn, Brother Wang!"
Wang Nan snorted. His love for his late wife endured. Had he gotten access to any kind of revival gu worm, he would have already used it on his wife long ago. However, these miraculous forces of nature were too rare!
"Wang Nan!" Bai Shou screamed for the umpteenth time. "Don't force my hand!"
Wang Nan's reply was a sword strike at the unconscious Ju Lin.
At this moment, countless pillars of the earth shaped as swords rose around Bai Shou, each tip aimed at her heart or head.
Bai Shou stomped powerfully. A stream of heavenly strength filled her veins and muscles as the shockwave tore chunks of the ground around her, destroying the earthen swords. The shockwave caused the ground to momentarily act like a tide as it rose and collapsed, causing the small area of the forest to tremble and rage.
Rank 5 Borrow Strength Gu.
Rank 5 Heaven Strength Gu.
Bai Shou could endlessly borrow the strength of heaven above!
The beauty of the strength path revealed itself as she consumed a negligible amount of initial stage rank 5 essence, and her strength was also not tied to the difference in one's rank. The amount a peak stage rank 5 gu master could produce using these two gu worms would be the same!
However, Bai Shou's strength paled compared to the sword path's extreme offensive nature.
'Hmph!'
Wang Nan leapt forward; a brilliant sword made of cylindrical blue starlight extended from his right grip.
He slashed against Bai Shou. Even as she jumped back, she suddenly felt weak.
'This is.'
Her eyes briefly widened.
'Rank 4 Cut Strength Gu.' Bai Shou knew it wasn't a rank 5 gu, or it would have left her completely without any stamina for an instant! This gu worm targets metaphysical strength within the body.
Bai Shou's balance broke as a result, forcing her to unceremoniously fall. However, she smacked her palms together, producing another disastrous shockwave as Wang Nan grunted. A sword light flickered and bloomed around him, but it did not weaken the impact of Bai Shou's attack on his ears. Blood trickled through his ears.
Where Wang Nan's attacks were getting more destructive, Bai Shou was focused on enraging and annoying her opponent. However, her mind was focused on evading as many attacks as possible due to the gu worm interfering with his Self-Reliance Gu Worm.
As they fought, Bai Shou also began to confirm several assumptions, including the nature of the misfortune suddenly striking her.
It was a mortal-level event.
A demonic killer like Wang Nan would not risk his gu worms if he knew the full extent of Bai Shou's abilities.
'Or, whoever supplied my information to Wang Nan left a few things. If that Gu Immortal, who picked Qin Juan and me, did relay his observations to the other Supreme Elders, they all must already know about my other strength path gu worm. However, I never revealed it here. It would be like Wang Nan's Cut Strength Gu Worm.'
Bai Shou's gaze shifted as she purposely slowed for a moment before grunting and covering Ju Lin, allowing a sword beam to leave a bloody gash on her upper right arm.
"Wang Nan!" She hissed hatefully. "You are a demon through and through! Your wife failed all of us sect disciples! Hahaha! I understand it now! She died because she could not stomach the look of her failure! You!"
"You killed your wife! Hahahaha! That's the joke of the century!"
"A walking corpse's delusion!" Wang Nan snorted coldly in reply. Even if he did not show any outward signs of impatience and rage, he raised the level of his attacks.
Another attack struck Bai Shou's left thigh, leaving a gaping hole the size of a fingertip.
Grimacing, Bai Shou gritted her teeth.
Evasion was no longer an option!
"Die!" Wang Nan's eyes shone coldly. A sword phantom covered his body. It was the same killer move he used in the morning, avoiding the use of the Rank 5 Sword Leap Gu Worm like a flea. Brilliant starlight covered its surface, announcing that it was no longer a movement-type killer move!
Setting Ju Lin behind her without another word, Bai Shou raised her fist.
"You'll never hurt Little Lin'er with me in the way!"
"She's no longer my target!"
Wang Nan grinned coldly, his body flickering and appearing before Bai Shou. The phantom sword tip almost pierced her. However, Bai Shou was also on the move. Her enhanced perception was not mere decoration, and she was hyper-aware of her enemy and surroundings.
An intense red glow coalesced around her fists before they struck the starlight sword. A wave of heavenly strength filled her body again, making her muscles and flesh slightly bloat.
*Boom*
A gigantic force erupted around Wang Nan and Bai Shou as the former's expression suddenly worsened. He coughed out a mouthful of blood while the starlight sword broke into pieces. One such piece fell into Bai Shou's hand. However, Wang Nan glared viciously.
Those broken pieces hurriedly dissolved into several strands of sword qi.
"Ugh!"
Bai Shou clenched her fist and jaw, angling her feet and punching forward despite threads of sword qi lacerating her left fist.
A clean strike forced Wang Nan back. Unfortunately, his defensive gu worm negated the attack's strength.
"You!" Wang Nan hissed, his expression no longer composed and cold. He briefly returned to his past self, and a wave of savagery burst out of his heart.
"Me."
Bai Shou smirked coldly despite bleeding from several injuries. She opened her right fist. A new gu worm lay in her palm obediently.
It was a blue firefly with a perpetually illuminated star blue bulb.
Rank 4 Lightsaber Gu!
<<<>>>
Alternate Title: Ju Lin: Oh, No! Master is a refinement path gu master *The Enemies: Oh, no! Bai Shou Refined My Fucking Gu Worms Mid-Battle*; Ju Lin Had Eyes But Still Cannot See Mt. Tai *She Cannot See Past The Mountains Hanging From Bai Shou*; Bai Shou About To Give Nightmare Level Training Montage To Ju Lin; The Hunt; A Dangerous Opponent; Bai Shou's Counter?; Fighting Smart; Not Giving Advantages; Wang Nan Is a Jedi; The Jedi Yoshimitsu; Sword Path Craziness; Bai Shou Expected a Sword Freak To Understand Her Woes, Lmao; Di Qing: I Know What Kind of Person You Are *Hints At Understanding Bai Shou's Past Losses*; Wang Nan: I Know What Kind of Person You Are *Just Wants a Fight of His Life*; Wang Nan: Momentarily Respecting Bai Shou For Her Concerns For Ju Lin *Bai Shou AF: Rub My Ashes In Yo Wife's Zombie Cunt, Sucka!*; Every MC: If You Can't Beat Them, Verbally Abuse Them; Bai Shou: That Gu Worm Is Mine; When Wang Nan Realizes He Isn't The Author's Protagonist; Thrill of Battle; Ju Lin, The Potato Sac; Ju Lin: Master Is Weak *Bai Shou: Strength Path Has No Such Weakness*; Skirmish; Jirou Na's Ploy
***
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