"Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap!"
Along with the increase in cultivation, there was also a rapid increase in Aptitude.
Zhou Ming watched in horror as his true essence sea rapidly rose, directly reaching ninety-nine percent, barely managing to hold back from completely filling the last sliver of space.
However, the occasional ripples constantly reminded Zhou Ming that his ninety-nine percent Aptitude could at any moment rise to one hundred percent, at which point his Aperture would inevitably explode with a "boom," becoming a brilliant firework.
"Tsk, as annoying as a bone-marrow maggot." Zhou Ming narrowed his eyes, smiled coldly, stood up, and called the Land Spirit.
He was no longer as isolated as he was in Northern Plains; with an entire Gu Immortal Blessed Land as support, Zhou Ming enjoyed resource conditions almost identical to those of a Gu Immortal.
For Gu Immortals, the Ten Extreme Physique Aperture crisis was never an issue; the only problem was the Ten Extreme Physique ascending to Immortal, a difficulty so great that even Gu Immortals participating could face demise.
So for the current Zhou Ming, the problem was similar: the Ten Extreme Physique ascending to Immortal was too difficult; with his current foundation, it was almost certain death.
This was why Zhou Ming was so determined to go to Southern Border to obtain the Second Aperture Gu; only by having his Second Aperture ascend to Immortal first could he have enough strength to allow his first aperture to ascend to Immortal as well.
And the trouble brought by the Aperture pressure was merely trouble; it no longer counted as a crisis.
"Land Spirit, are you ready?"
Looking at the Land Spirit, who had shifted over from the Void Realm, Zhou Ming asked with a faint smile.
"Everything is ready, Master!" The Land Spirit replied respectfully.
"Good, let's begin." Zhou Ming said.
"Yes!"
The Land Spirit let out a low cry, spread its arms, and looked up at the Water Ripple Immortal Gu in the glazed crystal lamp above its head, its face filled with fanaticism.
"Water Ripple Immortal Gu, unleash your power! Immortal Killer Move — Water Ripple Stillness!"
In the center of the main hall, on the jade platform, a Green Grape Immortal Essence suddenly flew out of the giant jade bowl, gradually dissipating in mid-air.
As this Green Grape Immortal Essence was consumed, the Water Ripple Immortal Gu and dozens of Mortal Gu were simultaneously activated, forming an Immortal Killer Move — Water Ripple Stillness.
This was a small and exquisite Immortal Killer Move, composed of only one Immortal Gu and dozens of Mortal Gu. Its structure was so simple that it was inferior to many Mortal Killing Moves.
Its function was also very simple: to make a body of water ripple-free, without fluctuations.
The clever part was that by simply changing a few of the Gu within it, its range of effect could be altered, allowing it to act upon the Aperture, making the true essence sea surface also ripple-free.
Even more ingenious was that this Immortal Killer Move was recorded in Gu Immortal Guo Nan's Water Path Legacy, and this variation, which acted upon the Aperture, although not explicitly recorded in the Legacy, only proposed a research direction, Zhou Ming obtained the correct answer after only a few simple attempts.
Heh heh, it truly was perfectly ingenious.
In the glazed lamp on the ceiling, the jellyfish-like Water Ripple Immortal Gu swam as if in seawater, its transparent frills swaying freely. The blue light it emitted grew stronger and stronger, finally transforming into a blue rainbow of light, descending and enveloping Zhou Ming.
The power of the Immortal Gu penetrated Zhou Ming's Aperture wall, acting within his Aperture. Immediately, the previously rippling true essence sea surface became as calm as a mirror.
This was not the most important function of the Water Ripple Stillness Killing Move; the effect Zhou Ming truly needed was its solidification of the true essence limit.
The true essence within Zhou Ming's Aperture would decrease with use and slowly recover with replenishment, but before the power of the Immortal Gu was exhausted, it would never exceed the ninety-nine percent limit by even a single hair's breadth.
And activating the Water Ripple Stillness Killing Move once, its effect would last for a full year. Unless interfered with by other powers, consuming the Immortal Gu power remaining in Zhou Ming's Aperture, there would be no problems.
"The Water Ripple Stillness Killing Move solidifies my Aptitude at Grade A ninety-nine percent. Although this prevents me from unleashing the true power of the Forest Sea Reincarnation Body, it is worth it for me."
"At least I can normally exert Rank Five strength without any hindrance, that's enough. Without becoming a Gu Immortal, the strength amplification of the Ten Extreme Physique alone is of little help to the upcoming plan."
Zhou Ming comfortably stretched his limbs. The heavenly suppression was gone, and the gloom that had lingered in his heart for many days completely dissipated. With his cultivation elevated to Rank Five Peak and a major internal threat temporarily resolved, Zhou Ming felt refreshed and exhilarated.
"It's time for the next step."
"Land Spirit, take me to the prison!"
Following Zhou Ming's command, the Land Spirit immediately transported Zhou Ming to the small island that had been converted into a prison.
Entering the dark underground prison, the space here had been widened considerably compared to before, adding more cells and housing more... experimental subjects.
Zhou Ming ignored the prisoners in the cells on both sides, who were either shouting madly, cowering, or cursing, and walked directly into the depths of the prison, stopping in front of one cell.
Click! The cell door opened, and a man eight feet tall inside suddenly stood up, glaring angrily at Zhou Ming, who was strolling in.
"Who exactly are you! You brought me here, but you don't see me, you just keep me locked in this dark dungeon. What exactly do you want to do!"
"I brought you here?" Zhou Ming chuckled, dumbfounded: "It seems you still don't know anything. How pitiful. Never mind, let me relieve you."
As he spoke, a Gu flew out of Zhou Ming's Aperture. As Zhou Ming willed it, it exploded into a yellow light, landing on the tall Gu Master.
"Ah! It's a Rank Five Slave Gu! Bastard, a scholar can be killed but not humiliated, you won't enslave me!"
The big man immediately recognized the origin of the Gu, was greatly alarmed, then furious. He gathered all his strength and fiercely lunged at Zhou Ming.
This big man burst forth with Rank Three Qi. Even outside, with all his Gu, it would be easy for Zhou Ming to subdue him, let alone in this Blessed Land, where his attempt to resist Zhou Ming was pure fantasy.
Bang!
Zhou Ming punched, directly knocking the big man to the ground.
"Impossible, I am a Strength Path Gu Master, how could I be knocked down by a petty thief like you!"
The big man was dumbfounded, then immediately reacted, shouting: "Blessed Land! This is in a Blessed Land!"
"You're just realizing it? Aren't you a bit too slow!" Zhou Ming sneered, stepped forward, straddled the big man, and swung his fists, giving the strong man a beating.
The purpose of the Slave Gu was to control a Gu Master and turn him into one's slave. However, for the Slave Gu to successfully control the opponent, it depended on the difference in both parties' cultivation Realm and soul foundation.
Now that Zhou Ming was at Rank Five Peak, and his soul foundation was even more formidable, enslaving this big man was already a foregone conclusion.
Now, he was giving the strong man a good beating, distracting him and preventing him from concentrating on resisting the Slave Gu's invasion of his mind.
Soon, the yellow light drilled into his forehead, completely obscuring his consciousness.
The strong man immediately quieted down, no longer resisting.
Zhou Ming stood up, looking down at the strong man.
The strong man flipped over, knelt before Zhou Ming, and loudly declared: "Subordinate Wang Yi greets Master!"