Kao Dao Ji observed his surroundings.
And his pupils suddenly shrank.
"They are here? Of all the times?" He stared at the horde of Blood Phantoms who stood from the distance.
His expression was very ugly.
He really did not felt confident in dealing with those Phantoms.
His original plan was to wait until he increased his attainment in Soul Path and when he had passed his first Heaven Calamity, before finally getting rid of them.
But who would ever predict that the hidden danger would finally explode here and now of all times?
Especially because he knew how at odds Crimson Soul and Heavenly Court were.
His eyes flickered several times, and he turned his glance towards Le Tu.
A hint of suspicion appeared in his face.
"Could it be that I am not the target?"
He wondered.
As if noticing his gaze.
Le Tu frowned.
"Are you asking me for ideas? I don't have any…Also. How exactly did those Blood Phantoms garner here in the first place?"
Kao Dao Ji sighed.
"It's a long story…" Using several Gu, he rapidly explained the truth of the situation, and as he did.
The expression of Le Tu and Uru Hong Jing changed.
"…You had such a long time to get rid of them, and still did nothing.
Even if you could not have gotten rid of them on your own, why didn't you ask your Clan?" Uru Hong Jing complained.
"I was under a restriction. It was a bit similar to a Spiritual Contract, but instead of binding my soul, once broken would instead trigger the hidden mechanisms.
Leading to an all-out attack of those specters inside my aperture."
But Uru Hong Jing did not buy his explanation.
He squinted his eyes.
"Even if I accept that explanation, why on earth didn't you say anything to Kao Yu Hun when he appeared so many times?"
Kao Dao Ji coughed awkwardly.
"W-Well…That. During my first meeting with Crimson Soul, I may have been forced to reveal a bit too many details about the Clan, and I feared that they would make an example out of me if I told them the truth.
Besides. I didn't know exactly what he did, for all I knew, he put some extra mechanisms that could not be removed so easily.
If the Clan deemed my aperture beyond saving, my Fate would be obvious.
That is why I decided to delay things for as long as I could, until I felt confident enough in solving it on my own.
Or by gathering the allies who could…"
Uru Hong Jing's eyelids trembled.
Even Le Tu asked.
"Why didn't you tell me—" Le Tu slapped his own forehead, as he realized he was saying nonsense.
After saying those words.
The trio stared at the horde of Blood Phantoms.
They were laughing maniacally, yes.
And Kao Dao Ji's aperture was covered by a strange membrane.
But that is as far as the damage went.
Not a single one of those Blood Phantoms tried to destroy a single inch of his aperture.
Which was extremely odd.
Even so.
He could not discard the possibility that the barrier held other abilities that had yet to be revealed.
Even if it did not, it was far too inconvenient!
Not only did it stop him from teleporting, but it also stopped anything from going out.
He could no longer contact Treasure Yellow Heaven; he could no longer send a singular Gu outside his aperture.
Land Spirits also possessed the ability to 'reject' a portion of their apertures, cutting it down like a limb. But even that ability had been thoroughly suppressed; even if he had been willing to cut a portion of his aperture to get rid of the Blood Phantoms, it no longer proved possible.
The clock was ticking.
He had to solve the situation as soon as possible.
But whilst he had his Ensouled Cloud Gu, the others were entirely useless.
Could he truly get rid of such a large horde entirely on his own using that Gu?
Suddenly, his eyes brightened.
"Le Tu about the Immortal Gu you received; do you have any idea of what it does?"
Le Tu raised his eyebrows. He did not understand why he was asking, nor why he looked so hopeful. It was a mere Rank 6 Immortal Gu which he was unfamiliarized at. Of a Path that he did not understand."
He frowned.
"I received a few hints, but I am not sure if I should trust them."
He closed his eyes.
"Just before I opened my eyes and woke up from the illusion, I saw the figure of the one you warned me about.
She told me a strange poem, but I don't think I can trust it…"
The pupils of Kao Dao Ji widened.
"A poem of Star Constellation?"
"What did she say?" Kao Dao Ji demanded.
Le Tu frowned. "I don't know why we should pay attention to the words of the enemy, but…Here it goes:"
He cleared his throat.
"The skies will darken; the world shall be tainted with red. When Paradise drifts far from mortal reach, pray in your heart, and keep dreaming — it will come true.
And yet — the Human Tribulations know no end.The skies will be overturned;ashes will rise, clouds will descend.A crimson and a black soul will emerge.
For the three bodies to escape,the five minds must unite —share their dream and escape the blight.
But when the dream fades, and reality awaits —Cicada will stir its wings and burrow within the shell.Yin-Yang tides will converge; azure rays will vanquish the dark.The skies beyond will open and clear.The bridge to Heaven will be revealed.
Open your palm, and all will be yours."
Kao Dao Ji frowned.
As he tried to make sense of that strange poem-riddle.
"A Crimson and a Black soul will emerge? I know about Crimson Soul but who is the other, also, 'emerge', will they truly come here personally?
And that part about three bodies and five minds?
What the hell it does even mean?
Ugh…Why is she talking with riddles instead of talking bluntly?"
Of course, he knew why, just like with Fang Yuan she did not want anybody to figure the truth beforehand, only exactly when she wanted to. And of course, there was most likely a trap hidden at the very end, or something.
"Whatever…The important part is figuring about that part about 'Dreaming', does it mean the Dream Path Gu in his hands?"" He turned his glanced towards Le Tu.
"Try to inject Immortal Essence into the Gu."
"Huh? You sure?" Le Tu asked somewhat confused.
"The Gu in your palms is a Dream Path Gu. The Path belonging to the future Dream Venerable.
I don't know much about the Path, but I am almost sure that it can target those ghosts…
So…Lemme share the information I know about them."
Once more, he shared as many details as he could spare in a short notice.
As Le Tu read further and further, his mind spun. 'The ability to make Gu worms hibernate, bypassing all defenses, the ability of gaining True Meaning.' Any of those things sounded absurd, and the more he listened, the more intrigued he became.
In the end, he agreed.
He injected his Immortal Essence upon the Gu and as he did.
A pinkish fog begun to spread surrounding his body.
Kao Dao Ji closed his eyes and allowed himself to be caught by it.
The faint image of a computer stood before his eyes, a blue screen ahead of him.
But the image within the screen looked illusory and flickering.
He tried to see further, trying to peer into the screen and as he did.
The illusion cracked.
And he woke up to reality.
Upon witnessing this, he realized.
"The Gu seems to have the ability to create an illusion, however if the person finds a weak point within the image, the dream automatically shatters."
His expression changed.
"I barely had to put on it any effort, the effect is too weak! I do not think even an small animal would be caught on it for long." He stared at Le Tu with a frowning expression, did he held back or there was another factor.
"Wait. Try to pray whilst you do it. And try to imagine something…"
Le Tu raised his eyebrows.
But he followed his indications, once more.
He was caught by the illusion, but unlike before he did not see a computer.
But instead saw a golden buddha figure standing at the horizon praying with a gentle smile.
He squinted his eyes, trying to discern further.
And as he did, the image turned clearer, he looked the side, and the same happened.
The illusion was no longer so fragile, that trying to look at the details cracked it.
However. He had another idea.
He moved his eyes towards the right, then towards the left, then up, then down.
And as he did.
Le Tu suddenly raised his eyebrows, and gritted his teeth.
There was some turbulence within the imagery, yet it remained surprisingly firm.
Until suddenly.
Kao Dao Ji walked towards the golden Buddha and spat on it.
The image finally shattered.
"I see…" Kao Dao Ji muttered.
"I am not sure but this Gu seems to have the effect of creating illusions, if you don't think of anything in particular, the target will be caught in an illusion of their own.
Albeit one very weak, and very easy to break.
But if you focus your mind in an imagery, the target will instead be drawn to it.
I guess the stronger that 'imagery' is, the stronger the effect becomes?" He speculated.
As he had this idea, he then turned his gaze towards the Blood Phantoms.
Even now, not a single one of them had struck.
They simply remained there, eerily.
Raising their arms towards the heavens, and creating that strange barrier.
But he had noticed, the barrier was now far thicker and heavier.
Moreover, there were strange fluctuations within it.
Kao Dao Ji exhaled.
During the whole talk, he had also been mindful of healing himself somewhat. And while he was not at his peak yet, he was no longer so helpless.
Even if there was an ambush he would no longer be killed so easily.
And so.
He opened his eyes widely and charged side by side with Le Tu, whereas Uru Hong Jing followed closely.
Whilst he lacked an effective Immortal Gu to deal with them, he was not as helpless as before.
But as the Blood Phantoms saw the trio approaching, they all laughed heartily.
Without a care in the world.
They all spread apart, fleeing to different directions.
The eyelids of Kao Dao Ji trembled.
So that was the game they were playing!
Kao Dao Ji nodded to the other two and they split in three different directions.
However.
Getting a glimpse of even a singular Blood Phantom was not an easy task.
Upon witnessing Kao Dao Ji, the phantom merely chuckled.
Without a shred of hesitation, it sunk towards the bottom of the ocean.
But before it could get deeper, Kao Dao Ji caught t and killed it with soulful rain.
Soon his eyes darted towards another Blood Phantom who was deeper into the ocean current, and he caught it.
The same path followed by, in which another three Blood Phantoms were hiding deeper and deeper onto the ocean.
As for the sixth?
That damned fucker had gone even deeper.
Reaching the bedrock that was beneath the ocean.
Kao Dao Ji had to dig his way out, unleashing powerful steam to slowly excavate his way through.
Damaging the foundation of his aperture to catch it.
His eyelids trembled.
Another Blood Phantom was hiding even deeper still.
It went so deep inside his aperture, that if it went just a few kilometers deeper it would actually touch the red membrane surrounding his aperture!
Kao Dao Ji gritted his teeth in pure rage.
At this pace, it would take days before he actually got rid of all the Blood Phantoms in his aperture.
He cursed inwardly.
How could a Rank 8 be this shameless?