Rank 4 Molten Waterfall.
Feng Jin Huang pushed her hands forward as the temperature within Desolation Formation Field rose significantly. Gusts of wind hissed as if set on fire, a tremendous tide of golden-red molten wave crashed out from the space inches away from Feng Jin Huang's extended hands. The sight left several viewer's cold and scared as they realized how their defensive gu worms would perish within a few seconds under the assault of this gu worm.
Lo Jik, however, didn't move. As the lava-like tide of metal reached him, he swatted at the gigantic wave with his hands. The molten metal splashed outwards.
He did not use any defensive gu worms. His skin sizzled and broke. His blood turned into smoke and erupted from all around him.
"What?" Several viewers screamed, losing their bearings as Lo Jik indifferently patted away the molten lava on his body. His skin rapidly healed, and he prevented his clothes from the waist-down from being too damaged.
'This guy…'
Feng Jin Huang's expression was grave. Her previous move was merely a probing attack. But Lo Jik was also one of a kind. Instead of using a defensive gu worm, as it would be the convention, he relied on his body! His body was strengthened using strength path gu worms. However, the effects would never be as great as the heat resistance granted using fire path gu worms.
'He used Self-Reliance Gu Worm. That gu worm's effects are based on the strength inside his body. His foundation is clearly at the peak, a mere step away from breaking through. So, his healing ability is also outstanding. Compared to that, his defensive gu might fall short. But to choose Self-Reliance over Golden Bell Shield meant enduring the experience of being burned alive!'
"It's a good day to not have any hair." Lo Jik laughed brightly as the lava made from molten metal covered a good chunk of the battle stage's ground, cooling rapidly and forming into a dark, matte ore with small reflective metallic bits peeking through. Smoke floated up to them before being swept away by the wind at a greater height.
The grey dot on the inner side of Lo Jik's left palm glimmered, materializing into a savage heavy bone bow with gruesome ridges and strange scars on its surface. It was the same height as Lo Jik and weighed hundreds of kilograms, something even weaker strength path gu masters would find challenging to wield.
However, this gu was tailor-made for Lo Jik. He aimed, pulled, and shot an arrow of strength qi in a fluid and elegant motion.
Rank 4 Little Giant Bone Bow.
*Swish*
*Swish*
*Swish*
Three arrows formed from dense strength qi visible to the naked eye reached Feng Jin Huang instantly. She snorted as her fair and soft skin turned dark and hard the next moment.
*Clang*
*Clang*
*Clang*
The arrows hit Feng Jin Huang but avoided her vital points. While they broke and dispersed, the astonishing force behind their draw sent the woman flying, a shocked noise almost escaping her lips.
'Oh? Rank 5 Adamantium Skin.' Lo Jik identified the effects of the rank 5 gu worm. Adamantium Skin could only be used by rank 5 metal path gu masters who cultivated sufficient foundation in their relevant body refinement. Once they used this rare metal path defensive gu worm, their skin would be etched with the dao marks of this gu worm, granting passive defense to the host gu master. As such, Feng Jin Huang did not spend a single percent of her primeval essence to defend against Lo Jik's attack.
'But I possess Great Strength True Martial Physique. The effects of rank 4 strength path gu worms aren't worse than rank 5 gu worms.'
Lo Jik smirked coldly. While his arrow couldn't pierce her shocking defense, their strength certainly impacted Feng Jin Huang because Adamantium Skin Gu wasn't great against blunt force.
A pair of golden phoenix wings sprouted from Feng Jin Huang's back. The feathers of these wings were sharp and solid like metal plates.
Feng Jin Huang flapped her wings with a proud cry.
"Outstanding." Lo Jik praised loudly. "You can almost mimic a rooster, Sister Feng!"
"Take this! Phoenix Feather Storm!"
Feng Jin Huang's gaze glowed with power and a rough glower escaped her throat. A peal of strange golden fire replaced her black pupils and nearly bled into her blue irides. She flapped her wings again, shooting out hundreds and thousands of sharp golden feathers, each exuding a sharp brilliance. They surrounded Lo Jik instead of attacking him directly. His vision was covered by these feathers as they formed an oppressive sphere around him.
Air screamed wherever the golden feathers moved. The rock under Lo Jik was cut apart into ribbons in two breaths as he fell, his feet almost getting shredded by the golden feathers.
'Your Golden Bell Shield is good against strong impacts but weak against sharp attacks. What now, Lo Jik?'
Feng Jin Huang observed as she heard a loud, bestial roar.
A burst of mist oozed from the gaps between the wings before being promptly cut apart as a scarred arm tore from the sphere of feathers!
"Do better, Sister Feng!"
*Clap*
A sound rivaling the clap of lightning echoed in the battle stage as a massive pressure burst from the center of the feather storm, sending each feather flying away!
Lo Jik landed safely, his body experiencing slight changes.
His grew out dark and hair. His brown eyes gleamed a ferocious green glint, and countless scars on his body oozed streams of mystical mist. His body was bulkier and comparable to that of a more streamlined but nonetheless meaty bodybuilder. Now, however, each muscle popped with ancient definition.
Rank 5 Little Giant Emperor!
Feng Jin Huang's eyes turned normal. The golden fire in her pupils was related to the control of her earlier killer move.
'Hmph!'
Feng Jin Huang began her fierce assault, showing numerous dazzling attacks and killer moves. Most rank 5 gu masters did not even possess a single rank 5 gu worm. However, Feng Jin Huang had her grandmother's inheritance. She was diligent in her cultivation and mastered everything her grandmother taught.
"I am also a rank 5 gu master, but this…"
One of the old elite disciples thought bitterly, awed and fearful. Being a rank 5 gu master but using a rank 4 gu worm was the same as an adult using a toothpick as their primary means for self-defense. However, Feng Jin Huang's assault drove their differences home. She wasn't alone in feeling small and helpless.
There were many other rank 4 but a small number of rank 5 disciples. Their horizons were broadened as they learned the true difference between an elite and a legacy disciple.
"That's not all." One of the disciples cupped his chin. "Metal path is recognized to have strongest attacking power alongside sword, blood, lightning, and fire paths. Most of Senior Sister Feng Jin Huang's attacks combine metal and fire paths. It's no wonder she can be so fierce. Meanwhile, Senior Brother Lo Jik walks the dao of strength. Most strength path gu worms consume less primeval essence and are extremely straightforward."
"Oh, no!"
One of Feng Jin Huang's supporters panicked as she watched Lo Jik calmly defend and endure all the attacks. He followed the most efficient approach, and others also realized his plan.
"Lo Jik is just focusing on healing and wants to exhaust Senior Sister Feng's primeval essence!"
"Hehe, then he is out of luck. Wasn't there a rumor about Senior Sister Feng encountering that rank 4 lotus gu when chasing a demon outside the sect?"
"It was just a rumor. Who knows if she truly has that lotus gu worm? And even if she does, her attacks aren't moving Lo Jik at all! Killer moves don't only expend primeval essence but also mental energy. How long can Senior Sister Feng continue this?"
Some disciples looked worried. Others cheered and felt their blood boiling. Feng Jin Huang's assault destroyed hills and almost shattered the defensive barriers around the stage. The ground was filled with sharp trenches and bubbling lava. Two monstrous entities made from sizzling molten metal struck Lo Jik constantly, beating him in an extremely pathetic manner.
However, Lo Jik kept healing his injuries!
"Ready to bark, Sister Feng?"
Lo Jik was even feeling leisurely, constantly taunting Feng Jin Huang using their information path gu worm.
"Hmm. That hurt a little. I'll later punish you by not feeding you for an entire day."
"Ooh~ It almost burned my penis. You are too cruel, Sister Feng. What would Juan'er think if you harmed her biggest toy?"
"Were you hoping to lose and becoming my bitch, Sister Feng?"
"Woof woof?"
"Hmm, where should I stick the dog tail plug once I win? Any thoughts, Sister Feng?"
"Do you think I should divert my attention and focus on enslavement path with dog groups? You can help me practice. Hahaha!"
"When I say bark, you say woof!"
"Oh, no! What would I do if you accidentally bite someone, Sister Feng? Sigh. I must also invest in proper sticks for disciplinary purposes. That is bound to be expensive."
"Aaah!"
Feng Jin Huang screamed loudly. Bai La and Bai Qing once observed Lo Jik's battle with Wang Nan and understood that his sharp tongue was one of his greatest assets. Feng Jin Huang finally snapped after enduring so much. His words were filled with ill intentions, and the frustration of being unable to defeat Lo Jik got to her.
Truthfully, Lo Jik could bully any mortal with a few strength path gu worms due to his extreme physique. Just one Self-Reliance Gu and Lo Jik's own grit against painful attacks cornered Feng Jin Huang to such an extent. Right now, only newbie gu immortals with low battle strength proved to be effective sparring partners as long as they did not grasp Lo Jik's weaknesses. Once they did, he would be killed quite easily. There were also other gu masters with extreme physique who stood a chance against Lo Jik.
"Stop barking!"
She hissed loudly as wild pressure escaped her body. The last strand of hesitation in Feng Jin Huang's snapped once she heard a mocking 'Woof' transmitted to her.
'That does it! You can heal, right? Try healing from this attack!'
Feng Jin Huang never expected Lo Jik to be such an infallible opponent. Seeing his battle through a screen and facing him personally were two entirely different concepts! Similarly, her awe for desolate-level creatures heightened and she no longer felt conceited enough to defeat them after seeing Lo Jik achieve the same. Lo Jik, with his potent healing, tough body, and a monstrous grit, was no different from a beast in a human skin!
He was a gu master whose extreme aptitude matured and displayed its best use without the threat of death!
However, Feng Jin Huang was not out of options yet.
'I can use his arrogance.'
Despite her crazed expression, she was calm. Though capable of burning her heart with fury, Lo Jik's words could only have so much effect. If she could tolerate his impudent looks, then his words itself failed to truly inhibit Feng Jin Huang's intelligence. Not only his words, but she was also capable of taking on much more from Lo Jik if he dared try her patience. What could his tongue alone accomplish? Even his hands, lips, and other body parts would suffer from failure. She would truly let him understand the difference between a talent nurtured by gu immortals and mere demonic gu masters enduring life-death situations for cheap gu worms.
Gu worms left Feng Jin Huang's aperture in an orderly fashion.
Some glowed like dazzling jewels and some looked heavy and stable. All these gu worms were rare and ranged from rank 1-5. Feng Jin Huang's primeval essence drained at a horrifying pace. Even her peak stage rank 5 essence was barely able to support her current use of gu worms as she activated other gu worms to support the consumption of her primeval essence.
'This is…'
A strange sensation consumed Lo Jik.
"Outstanding… Senior Sister Feng's talent is truly monstrous…"
"A Gu House…"
A few disciples whispered under their breaths.
"A gu house?" One of the disciples questioned, confused. "I saw the Heart Engraved Gu related to this topic in Education Hall. But isn't a gu house those specialized gu worms capable of housing gu masters?"
"No. A House Gu is a classification under the type of gu worms, like offensive, defensive, storage, support, and healing gu worms. Meanwhile, a gu house falls under the umbrella of killer moves!"
"A killer move?!"
Many gu masters were confused about this topic as an elderly elite disciple spoke with an expression of awe. Her words were soft, but others listened to her intently.
The origin of the first gu house points to the seven Lui Gui siblings who lived in the Olden Antiquity Era. The seven Lui Gui siblings were born septuplets and cultivated to become rank 5 peak stage demonic gu masters, all defense experts. As they had a strong bond since birth, they always moved together and combined their strength into the first gu house, a defensive type gu house called Turtle House. This gu house allowed them to defend against three attacks of a gu immortal, which established the tale called 'Three Moves Pact'. Since then, many new and unique gu houses were created.
Strangely, however, the first gu house was not actually the Turtle House. Only after the concept of a gu house was popularized did one realize that a gu house existed since Remote Antiquity Era. Not only that, this gu house was the creation of humanity's first venerable, Primordial Origin! Each venerable were the closest to the Great Dao in their era, having reached unimaginable depths in the three aspects of gu cultivation—use, nurturing, and refinement. Killer moves represented a greater understanding of the 'use' aspect of gu worms.
Primordial Origin built the greatest city in the history of mankind in Central Continent that lasted to this day with millions of years of history, Emperor City. It was recognized as the number one mortal gu house, constructed using tens or thousands of gu worms!
The elderly disciple continued explaining patiently.
"A gu house is like a fortress. A completed gu house recipe can construct a structure that can utilize all the basic aspects of a path like attacking, defending, movement, storage, investigation, healing, and such. While each outstanding gu house has a specialty, they can effortlessly charge and crash into the enemy! Sigh. If only I could observe an immortal gu house with my own eyes before dying."
"Immortal gu house?" Someone asked with slight hesitance.
"Of course! Gu houses with immortal gu worms as their cores are immortal gu houses. Our Spirit Affinity House is one of the ten ancient sects. We also possess this treasure. But… how can us mortals view it?"
Many disciples looked envious of such power as their gazes towards Feng Jin Huang changed.
"Amazing…" Lo Jik muttered under his breath.
Oh, he couldn't give a rat's ass about Feng Jin Huang's incomplete gu house. These things were very challenging to conceptualize, several times harder than regular killer moves and gu recipes… or so Lo Jik thought until this moment.
A strange mood nearly consumed his heart and thoughts. His mind sparkled with divine inspiration.
'Feng Jin Huang has no interest in refining gu worms. While she does refine a few gu worms at times, she mostly relies on Qin Juan or buys the gu worms directly from Treasure Yellow Heaven. How can she have the foundation to form a gu house? She might not even be a metal path master yet. It must be Bai La who thought of the crucial hints and clues related to this mortal gu house and left the remaining for Feng Jin Huang to solve, to raise the latter's accumulation in metal path.'
He felt troubled.
Even if incomplete, a gu house could seriously harm him. But he didn't dare interfere with Feng Jin Huang preemptively. The source of his inspiration was watching Feng Jin Huang itself.
He watched her assemble the gu worms as countless derivation thoughts inside Lo Jik sparkled and collided with each other.
An inspiration did not always mean the correct path, but Lo Jik also didn't leave any stones unturned. Back then, Desolate Ancient Moon had to go through every stone in search of success. How can one fear failure when looking for success?
Lo Jik decided to take the risk after a moment's consideration.
'I see… I see…'
Enlightenment consumed Lo Jik. Battles rarely invoked inspiration of this nature. Even if they did, most gu masters engaged in life-death battles and chose to interrupt this mood for their survival. However, Lo Jik was engaged in a spar. He could afford slight carelessness.
'The nature of gu recipe, killer moves, and even gu houses are connected deeply. Feng Jin Huang is adding so many gu worms to form a gu house. Is it not the same as refining the gu house? Who's to say one cannot add appropriate refinement path materials and actually refine a gu house into one gu worm?'
'Following this thought, killer moves are the same. I tailor-made Rank 4 Little Giant Bone Bow Gu for Self Dharma Killer Move. I studied the killer move extensively and came up with the recipe after deep calculation. But if I can tailor a gu worm for a killer move, why can't I complete the killer move with more materials to refine them into a gu worm itself?'
'Gu houses and killer moves are incomplete gu worm recipes! If there can be a Self Dharma killer move, a Self Dharma Gu Worm must be a possibility, too.'
'But these aspects are connected. If there can be Self Dharma killer move, there can also be a Self Dharma gu house!'
Lo Jik's breathing sped slightly as he grew engrossed with Feng Jin Huang's movements. Usually, he would notice her puffing out under his gaze. However, he couldn't notice these changes. He couldn't focus on the glimmer of pride in her eyes as she felt his dazed stare or her enticing smile.
'A human…'
He truly felt aware of his surroundings.
A human was assembling a gu house.
A sea of humans surrounded him, cheering excitedly.
A human, himself, was lost in inspiration.
'What am I missing?'
Lo Jik's thoughts moved past his earlier blocks. He was on the right track.
It won't be long until he encounters success!
'What is it?'
Lo Jik didn't dare look away.
The realization of the relationship between gu house, killer moves, and gu refinement had a great impact on Lo Jik's understanding of concepts. He kept forming derivation thoughts as he could convert almost all the gu recipes into incomplete killer moves!
Lo Jik also took things up a notch.
Didn't he refine 'effects' of a gu worm itself? Were they not incomplete recipes for single use consumable gu worm variants to their original counterparts?
Countless possibilities and imaginative insanity transformed into real possibilities!
But…
He was still missing something.
'Keep going.'
Lo Jik didn't care about the expenditure. His derivation thoughts were consumed greatly. His soul and mind suffered huge pressure as he kept using Rank 3 Derivation Mind until cracks began to form on its surface.
If he continued, his soul would be injured due to going over the limit of his thinking capacity. After all, he was not truly a wisdom path gu master. The best way for him to use thoughts with this intensity was by using them outside of his body. His brain had a limited capacity!
'No!'
It was as if Lo Jik's mind was struck by lightning. He was like a man lost in a dark cave, only noticing the glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel after suffering countless traps.
Blood flowed down his nose as he realized another aspect of the human path!
This inspiration brought great benefits to his refinement and human paths!
Feng Jin Huang was done with her preparations. Her tired gaze could not conceal the pride brimming in her eyes.
Before her floated a skull-sized golden cage. This cage was only big enough to hold a sparrow. However, anyone who observed the golden cage experienced their throats drying up and their hearts shuddering frightfully.
"Golden Phoenix Fox Cage! Go!"
Feng Jin Huang shouted as the cage shot towards Lo Jik.
*Swish*
Lo Jik moved, not daring to receive the attack and ruining his moment of inspiration.
"Hmph! Now you run? Let's see how far you can get."
Feng Jin Huang's eyes blazed as she drew power from her soul. The mortal gu house's speed increased as it approached Lo Jik rapidly.
Rank 4 Crimson Bat Wings.
Rank 5 Multiply!
Lo Jik stopped using the giant transformation and flew at an astonishing pace. Feng Jin Huang scoffed and kept chasing, trying to corner Lo Jik.
Meanwhile, another battle raged inside Lo Jik's mind. Countless calculations and deductions left him tired and drained. But his excitement only grew.
The more he understood about human path, the better he understood certain aspects of refinement path and vice versa.
He truly didn't dare get struck by the attack or change anything.
'I will save countless hours of effort and resources if I fully digest this inspiration.'
The premonition in his heart grew stronger by the second.
Grandmaster!
Gu immortals like Bai La would cough out a mouthful of blood if they realized how quickly Lo Jik surpassed his limits. However, he truly never expected to be struck with inspiration at this moment!
If he continued, there was a chance he might lose to Feng Jin Huang.
'Is it my fortune that I chanced on such a scenario and am stuck in this state or Feng Jin Huang's good luck that I can't focus on defeating her?'
Lo Jik didn't know whether he should laugh or cry. So, he decided to focus on the grind!
"This is… Lo Jik is a flying path master?!"
"Such exquisite flying skills?"
"These two are meant for each other, I'm telling you!"
Others were shocked by Lo Jik's flying skills. After all, he was never forced to reveal his flying attainment. Even against Wang Nan, Lo Jik chose to act like a rookie and flight and lower that demon's defenses. However, Lo Jik would do a lot more just to stall for a mere second.
He was so close!
Feng Jin Huang's gaze grew stern. Her primeval essence was almost expended!
'I got it!'
Lo Jik's gaze sparkled.
'Human path has an effect of non-conflicting dao marks. In fact, Accumulation Gu can be considered an essence of this aspect, capable of being used with any and all killer moves without any changes! Undefeated Hundred Battles Gu is the same. It manages the environment around the gu refinement process and ensures a guaranteed success by removing conflict caused by the dao marks in our surroundings over the dao marks related to the refinement of the gu worm.'
'But this non-conflicting nature has many secrets. For instance, how does this non-conflicting nature come to be?'
'Do all human path gu worm show this aspect? No. If so, Empty Cube Gu worm would not have impeded the use of Dreamer Gu. But Dreamer Gu Worm's dao fragment primarily consists of the arrangement of human path dao marks, with those strange dream-like dao marks being secondary. The same can be observed with Rockmen, Refiner, and Hairy Man Gu Worms.'
'Human path achieves the aspect of non-conflicting dao marks by managing dao marks of other paths.'
'But human path has other aspects.'
'Human path clones follow a certain aspect. Using humans as materials is another aspect shared with refinement path. Refining gu inside humans is also possible! I refined effects within my body. Those are incomplete gu refinement recipes. To refine a complete gu worm inside the body is not a ridiculous dream but a certainty!'
These were all the aspects Lo Jik already encountered and experienced in some form and manner.
Today, he noticed another aspect of human path he missed until now!
'Human path is connected to human experiences. How could I have not seen it until now?'
'One of the greatest creations by sapient lifeforms like humans and variant humans is…'
Lo Jik's eyes brightened!
'Organization!'
'Sects. Clans. Tribes!'
'Caravans, merchant groups, bazaars!'
'Even a chain of command among servants and weak mortals… all this belongs to the concept of an organization!'
A gate of possibility opened in Lo Jik's mind, showering his tired thoughts with a wave of ideas and insights.
Earlier, Lo Jik did not know the meaning of this sensation.
However, after using Dreamer Gu to this extent and understanding several realms of attainment in different paths allowed Lo Jik to realize his comprehension of refinement and human dao took a gigantic leap forward!
A grandmast—
Lo Jik's eyes widened as the golden cage reflecting in his pupils expanded rapidly.
*Boom*
Lo Jik's mind shook, almost collapsing. His body suffered a grievous injury as he plummeted to the ground with blood flowing from several deep injuries.
Only the conspicuous golden cage and a tired Feng Jin Huang stayed in the sky.
She won!
Feng Jin Huang instantly bombarded Lo Jik with several attacks as the ground around him cratered and the nearby hills collapsed on him, shattering into several rocks.
*Boom*
*Boom*
*Boom*
'For god's sake, you crazy bitch…'
Feng Jin Huang heard a weak voice transmit his surrender. However, before he could articulate, Feng Jin Huang hurriedly attacked a few more times to vent the frustrations in her heart.
'… I admit defeat.'
***
Alternate Title: Lo Jik Indeed has a Grand Mast; Feng Jin Huang: You're My Bitch Now! *Lo Jik Quietly Slips onto her Bed and Demands Comforting Scratches*; Lo Jik: I'm So Knot Ready; Feng Jin Huang Can Take on Lo Jik's Tongue Any Time of the Day; Feng Jin Huang When She Sees Fang Yuan's Anaconda: I'll Kill You! I'll Shred Your Skin and Shatter Your Bones! *Feng Jin Huang Watching Lo Jik With Qin Juan: Hmm… I Can Fix Him*; A Gu House; Venerables be Doing Crazy Shit Before it Became Popular; Primordial Origin was on Attainment Steroids; Emperor City; Greatest Mortal Gu House; An Epiphany; Grandmaster; A New Human Path Aspect; Heaven's Will is Just Going to Give Up; Feng Jin Huang's Great Luck Helped her Win; Lo Jik's Great Luck Mitigated the Losses and Formed Inspiration; Feng Jin Huang After the Battle: Lo Jik is so Exhausting! *Qin Juan: Preaching it to the Choir, Sister*; Incomplete Recipes; Three Path Grandmaster; Strength Path Master-Realm Attainment Crying in the Corner
***
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