Quick thinking was as much a curse as it was a blessing. A rare sense of disbelief shrouded Lo Jik's features for the first time in a while as he kept thinking.
Thinking.
His thoughts continued generating despite the stinging ache in the depths of his mind and head. He couldn't not think after the secrets Black Moon disclosed in her own vague and discreet fashion which did involve a whole lot of belief in Lo Jik's comprehension and intelligence.
Then again, he did extort an immortal gu worm from the woman and he was beginning to see the sheer advantages Black Moon stood to gain despite losing one rank 6 immortal gu worm.
A conflict.
A GREAT conflict.
Only that made sense.
Beyond that conclusion loomed the mysterious Heavenly Court. Lo Jik knew very little of it. In fact, he was quite close to Heavenly Court in a certain way. Hu Immortal Blessed Land was left in Tian Ti Mountain, a legendary location of inheritances that was once the stairs leading to Heavenly Court.
Mortals and gu immortals alike left their inheritances in Tian Ti Mountain for fated successors, with Hu Immortal Blessed Land being one of them. If one reached the peak of the mountain and looked up, in a way, they stared right at Heavenly Court.
A court founded by history's first venerable—Primordial Origin Immortal Venerable.
A court of Central Continent's greatest.
A court of Central Continent's strongest and most talented.
Just thinking about the wonders of this grotto heaven left Lo Jik momentarily breathless. He'd only seen depictions of the court from sparse information present in the sect. Surely, Spirit Affinity House gathered more about Heavenly Court given the fact that all the members of the court emerged from the ten ancient sects. However, Lo Jik never got to access them.
This court undoubtedly knew everything about the ten sects.
It knew about the plan.
Perhaps, the members of the court were the true mastermind behind this plan all along.
A plan that might lead to untold bloodshed, violence, and despair—a perfect storm that threatened to swallow the entire gu world whole.
It would be chaos, the thought excited Lo Jik. A war.
A war between the gu world's five great regions!
A conflict of such magnitude to have never existed before, and a secret that drove the final nail in this coffin of endless carnage…
The regional qi walls would soon cease to exist.
Maybe not in the coming decades… but soon. It was an eventuality, revealed Black Moon. The regional qi walls will dissipate and open humanity to meet with their brothers and sisters across the great regions without the bothersome pressure from foreign regional qi, a benefit that was largely enjoyed by the mortals with no gu cultivation.
However, the disappearance of the qi walls would not lead to the unification of humanity in the most literal sense.
Various gu immortals and gu masters wouldn't just hold each other's hands and welcome everyone into their abodes.
It would lead to a war for unification.
Only that was the logical conclusion because of one reason—Heavenly Court.
Central Continent was one such region occupied by a dominant power beyond the influence of regular super forces present in the other four region with Northern Plains coming to a close second. What would Heavenly Court, an organization consisting of gu immortals hand-picked from already prestigious super sects, attempt to accomplish when the regional qi walls dissipate? Such a question, however grim, was futile.
The truly exhilarating thought was imagining the reaction of other super forces.
Would they not see Heavenly Court as a grave threat to their territories?
Moreover, did the other four region predict similar conclusions? Lo Jik imagined other super forces also producing a great many talented seeds and gu immortals, and any one of them could have deduced the disappearance of the regional qi walls!
Were the other four regions also preparing?
Did they have a gu recipe equivalent to the ten sect's Human Skin Gu? Oh, heaven! There was so much to consider. And there was no reason to believe other super forces did not think this much and more, planning accordingly, if Lo Jik could reach this step with mortal gu worms aiding his thinking alone.
'So many gu immortals of the sect already have a head start.' Lo Jik's gaze glinted as Bai La's, Feng Jiu Ge's, Xu Hao's, Fairy Yi's, Bai Qing's, and even first supreme elder's countenance flashed across his mind. They were all superb and resourceful. What else did they already know? How deep did this water run?
Regardless, Lo Jik found himself attracted to this future of chaos not as one of the willful participants in acts of violent and crazed carnages but as a… supplier. If he had to state one fact about wars, it would be—the greatest winner in any war is never its participants but the arms' dealer.
He could supply Human Adaptive Qi Gu.
He could supply Human Skin Gu.
The realization that offering Feng Jin Huang the recipe for Leader and Follower Gu alongside the killer move follow the leader might lead her to gain untold advantage in the future might have stung Lo Jik if the act didn't lead him to gain a strength path immortal gu worm. It was merely a trade of future prospective gains for present substantial one, something Lo Jik was still satisfied with if one recalled how well he and Huang connected earlier.
It didn't take long for Lo Jik to conclude he was in a race against behemoths like super sects and clans that might share his schemes. He needed to surpass them and do so discreetly.
He needed resources and become a gu immortal as quickly as possible.
Black Moon could be an unlikely ally despite their short but distasteful history. However, nothing beat the advantages of being self-reliant.
'Human Skin Gu and Human Adaptive Qi Gu can be refined into something more useful to my current self. It might just be the key to inspect Immemorial Desolate Immortal's Grotto-Heaven.' Lo Jik deduced, wondering how Black Moon would react if she knew that revealing the recipe for Human Skin Gu was enough to let Lo Jik try and gain a grotto-heaven.
<<<>>>
Though exhausted, poor Ju Lin fought off her weariness to follow Lo Jik's instructions and continued processing materials in their newly constructed refinement chamber. Mistakes in her hands were a common occurrence, and the subsequent injuries, if any, were her responsibility to treat. Otherwise, she stood to lose her next match, which may just lead to a downward spiral ending with Lo Jik no longer be her master after losing ten matches in a row.
It wouldn't be the worst thing, Ju Lin thought briefly before growing alert. Her back straightened and she focused on her current practice. Becoming unfocused during refinement was one of her greatest vices, something several failed—non-lethal and controlled—refinement processes removed steadily like removing impurities from a metal ore.
But she… felt aggrieved. It was wrong to feel so, but she still did.
Ju Lin knew it was a way for her master to teach her better. However, it also came across as malicious.
He did not have to go out of his way and announce that anyone who can defeat Ju Lin ten times in a row within the next five years could request him to refine any rank 5 gu worm for free as long as they could provide one set of materials.
Lo Jik even guaranteed the success of gu refinement!
The air around Ju Lin had changed since then.
Fawning gazes turned into sharp glares threatening to stab her in the back of her head.
Those ingratiating smiles now veiled lethal venom bubbling in greedy hearts of several other outer disciples.
Everyone schemed around her, some going as far as to inconvenience her outside the battle stages just to challenge her in hopes of catching her off-guard. Having experienced a few attempts on her life back in the sect during the change of Sect Leader's position, Ju Lin also wondered when someone might try actively plot for her demise outside the battle stage.
Of course, her experience did not mean all-knowing wisdom. Or perhaps it was the stress of it all, but Ju Lin did not have to worry about the latter possibility because killing her did not entail a reward—only her defeat ten times in a row. So, Ju Lin's loved ones were in a greater danger than herself.
It didn't matter to Lo Jik, of course. Either she swam admirably or sank like someone never meant to be.
She'd been killed several times in Reincarnation Battlefield yet this was significantly more stressful.
*Bang*
The sudden noise of the chamber's door being opened failed to distract Ju Lin but she still shot a glance in its direction before controlling golden flames above two orbs of light covering two gu worms in the middle of a fusion.
It was none other than Lo Jik.
His presence didn't make Ju Lin as excited as before as she chose to ignore her master. It would have been fine as she continued daily matches in the battle as usual. Lo Jik could have even revealed she was her disciple and one of the conditions for this relationship to continue was for Ju Lin to balance her win-loss ratio. But no. He offered positive reinforcement for others by adding a reward to the fact, making others purposely scheme against her.
When confronted about it, Lo Jik had merely shrugged, saying: You deal with it. Why don't you try beating me if it makes you angry?
The galls!
"Oh, still mad? How green of you, Little Lin." Lo Jik grinned as if sensing her bubbling emotions.
The floating orbs wavered before imploding on themselves. Ju Lin turned pale and trembled as blood flowed down her nostrils. The flames dissipated before her bloodshot eyes and she glared daggers at Lo Jik.
"Is that how you should look at your master?" Lo Jik chuckled while sniffing the air to assess her progress. "Ah, and you were so close. A pity. You need to master your emotions, Ju Lin. Let go of your anger. I'll teach you new things once you get over your mood swings."
"I am not infuriated, master." Ju Lin wiped her nose and swallowed drily.
"If you say so." He hummed, his nonchalance nearly driving Ju Lin crazy. However, deep down, she owed everything to her master. She knew it. Nothing was keeping her here save for her own desires. Lo Jik wasn't forcing her to compete in battle stages daily.
"I want you to prepare a few dozen materials, Little Lin." Lo Jik began stacking several sets of different products ranging from herbs, minerals, flesh, organs, and more. Most of them were so rare that Ju Lin had only read of them! The small hill of materials sent her into a daze as his words rudely snapped her out.
"I will soon welcome a few more assistants. Sigh, you're too slow for my current needs."
Ju Lin froze and lowered her head, indignant and also sad. Her master was wise… a being that tackled monsters usually uttered in the same vein of fear as gu immortals. He had to know the hurt threatening to tear her heart when he acted so cold and disappointed… so malicious.
'Master your emotions.' Ju Lin suddenly recalled Lo Jik's words. The answer to her needs were often presented gift-wrapped in regular conversations with her master. Did she need to feel the hurt due to his words when his actions only served to temper her into a monstrous gu master?
Could she afford to wallow?
'I am slow for his current needs. That's why I cultivate.' Ju Lin quietly affirmed her conviction and slowly looked up, nodding.
"Good." Lo Jik complimented without his usual pleased smile, his words feeling hollow as it tested Ju Lin's control again. "Heal yourself and process the materials for this recipe."
He didn't spend a minute longer and left Ju Lin alone as she momentarily thinned her lips before exhaling deeply.
<<<>>>
The news of Lo Jik wanting to employ gu masters as his helpers in refining gu worms spread like a wildfire in Dang Hun City and beyond. Several self-claimed refinement path experts dropped out of the convention early on and many more disciples hoped to get near Lo Jik, eagerly requesting to be tested for the position. It was truly a wonder as to why Lo Jik would stop cultivating and spend days filtering through thousands of letters.
Others might not question Lo Jik's motives. After all, Disguise Gu ensured that none knew how swiftly Lo Jik grew. Nobody could imagine how crucial his daily cultivation was to him.
Yet, he chose to make temporary sacrifice for the one.
"Ah, you're here." Lo Jik invited warmly a woman whom he wasn't looking for. Still adorable and shy, Sun Yao avoided his gaze and flustered.
"Um… can I be considered for the position, Brother Lo Jik?"
He blinked owlishly before shrugging.
"Of course." He smiled. "You will start helping me refine a few select gu worms from now on. Please look over these details and let me know if the quoted remuneration is enough for your service."
It was Sun Yao's turn to blink in surprise as she floundered.
"Will you not test me, Brother Lo Jik?"
"Oh," he replied with a knowing look, making her heartbeat faster as her cheeks flushed. "You've already been tested for so long, Sister Sun. There's no need for more."
"I… I don't understand."
"Didn't you learn under Juan'er and Sister Feng?" Lo Jik chuckled. "I mean, I trust them. You will do just fine, Sister Sun."
Sun Yao nodded as she discreetly sighed in relief.
It didn't take long for another prospective aspirant to make way to his workstation as he tested several gu masters at his expense.
It took time and resources to prepare said materials and using those to test others for Lo Jik's satisfaction meant a grave loss because he did not accept anyone after Sun Yao for a while. There were a few gu masters who refined the gu worms successfully, but Lo Jik still refused to accept them until Black Moon stepped past his door.
Lo Jik welcomed his third wife with a bitter smile.
"Surely you jest, Fairy Black Moon." Lo Jik's shoulders sank as if burdened by a great weight. "I'm preparing a few things to refine gu worms for myself. How can I boss you around? Not to mention, you still need to participate in the convention."
"Dear," Black Moon spoke as she kept the pretenses with her words laced with such sweetness one might forget the mask around her face and the harshness of her gaze. "Do you take me for an insolent child?"
Lo Jik chuckled wryly.
"Of course, not. How can you be a child, Fairy Black Moon?" He jabbed.
"Well, then you mustn't worry about my choices." She narrowed her eyes, the previous mark registering as intended. "What's the criteria to join this new venture of yours?"
"I wouldn't dare test you, Fairy." Lo Jik shook his head solemnly. "There is no particular venture to speak of. I've just been intrigued in refining a few select gu worms. Your insight on the matter would be most appreciated."
She nodded calmly, a stark contrast to Sun Yao's thinly veiled bashfulness.
"Since you also understand about my need to join the convention then you must excuse me these few days." Black Moon added, instantly demanding her… paid leaves. Lo Jik shuddered at the thought of her attitude should she require a maternal leave.
The news of Black Moon entering Lo Jik's folds also intrigued many gu masters. Already knowing the cause behind Black Moon's invasion in his small business, or at least a portion of it, Lo Jik cordially sowed more and more information about his blissfully married life and how lucky he was in having Black Moon's support due to her gifts and experience in refinement path. He went above and beyond in making Black Moon appear more… favorable.
And that led to—
"You said WHAT?!" Feng Jin Huang appeared before Lo Jik out of thin smoke, slamming her hands on the cauldron and destroying it at once. This move… pleased Lo Jik. It was his go to technique when taking care of issues.
"What?" Lo Jik pled innocence. "I… said 'I love you' to Juan'er and Zhe'er this morning? I didn't dare write you such letters because I was afraid you might get in trouble, Huang'er."
Feng Jin Huang's lips twitched uncontrollably as she hissed.
"You think Black Moon is forgiving because she took you in and FORGAVE you for ever sleeping with me? YOU slander ME? How dare you?!" Her blue eyes were lit with fires that no water in the gu world could douse. Yet… Lo Jik did research several firemen and trained as one briefly to sleep with the department chief's wife. He'd handled enough flames already.
"That…" Lo Jik sighed before smiling softly. "I'm bound to perform certain acts. You already know that. Besides, I was merely parroting off of the lie Black Moon spoke first. And just so you know, sleeping with you is not an insult at all. It's great."
She narrowed her eyes and demanded with suspicion written all over her face.
"How great?"
"Greater than the excitement I felt when I got my first inheritance," Lo Jik replied smoothly as he stepped forward and held her hands. "Greater than the fear that's building in my chest…"
"Fear?" Feng Jin Huang frowned. "You… fear me?"
"Snnrk, what?" Lo Jik snorted a giggle much to Huang's annoyance before he admitted. "I am afraid how your parents will react once they know what we did." He brought her closer. "And how many times we did, and how we did it, and how deep with did it."
Feng Jin Huang's face blushed crimson by the end of it as she struggled to maintain a cool expression expected from a disciple of her station.
"Really?" She whispered while lowering her head a bit and resting it on Lo Jik's shoulder.
"Yep."
"Then I'm joining, too."
Lo Jik froze as Feng Jin Huang continued cuddling in the crook of his neck, her words still sweet but strangely… disciplinary.
"Let's see what she has to say about me joining in. Hmm, and remember what you said… h-honey." She tried, so plus points for her. "Remember to not forget whose side you're on when it's just me, you, and that Moon Bitch alone in a room."
She stiffened after a moment as Lo Jik's hands left her hands and grabbed something far rounder with scorching possessiveness. His fingers sank into her soft butt cheeks before he groped them and lifted them slightly.
"That's how I'm going to hug you goodbye every time it's just us three. Don't worry, I'll make sure Black Moon watches every single thing."
Feng Jin Huang pouted and nestled further in Lo Jik. Just one win… she's only just won once. Why can't she repeat that achievement in any other aspect of their lives? Well, there was that refinement duel but that was more of Lo Jik surrendering of his own accord. Feng Jin Huang never knew the truth.
Her breath shook ever so slightly before she cooed softly.
At least, she didn't mind being on the receiving end as long as things remained private… and as long as Lo Jik kept pushing the right buttons.
***
Alternate Title: Predicting the great chaotic war but not the great era; The chaotic 500-year war; Arms' dealer; More help; An idea to check out the inheritance; Black Moon and Lo Jik keep feeding off of each other; Looming Heavenly Court; The disappearance of regional qi walls; All-out war; A great opportunity; Lo Jik trying to make chaos his ladder; Making bigger finger proud; Ju Lin's frustrations; Lo Jik to Ju Lin: This. Is. SPARTA *Tosses her in the ring for her own good*; Lo Jik taking pages off of Garp to train Ju Lin; Cold Master; More assistants?; Planning; Sacrificing time for what?; Hidden agenda; Getting Sun Yao and Black Moon; Feng Jin Huang's… angry horny?; Feng Jin Huang about to twerk on Lo Jik to show dominance over Black Moon; A great announcement; Selecting new assistants; Ju Lin's growth; Seeking comfort beyond words
***
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