'One day in the main continent equals to five days in Hu Immortal Blessed Land. I obtained one year for myself inside Hu Immortal Blessed Land, which is a little over two months.'
'Two months, that equals to about ten years in my first blessed land, six years in my second blessed land, and four years in Immemorial Desolate Grotto-Heaven.'
'My first priority is to study Dang Hun Mountain—to be precise, Guts Gu.'
Lo Jik had already returned from the grotto-heaven. In reality, the heavenly tribulation the old man faced wasn't all that much. Only grand and myriad tribulations threatened the grotto-heaven's existence. After dealing with some matters, Lo Jik came back to Hu Immortal Blessed Land. Due to the time dilation, a year in Hu Immortal Blessed Land would mean six years in Lo Jik's human path blessed land.
As such, he couldn't help but calculate one peculiar number.
It took about forty days to achieve a bronze reward from Hu Mei Er. Based on this information, Lo Jik came to a disheartening realization that platinum achievements would take slightly more than sixteen years of accumulation in the second blessed land! The difference was truly too exaggerated when one considered the fact that Bai La still dispensed silver achievements every single day.
'However, golden achievements will take slightly above one-and-a-half year to accumulate. This number is more reasonable. As time progresses, Hu Mei Er's cultivation will also grow. She also has access to Pool of Wisdom and can get over several hurdles quicker than ordinary gu masters.'
'Platinum achievements will become easier to obtain once Hu Mei Er breaks through to rank 6.'
Of course, this also meant Lo Jik had to tirelessly appease Hu Mei Er's insatiable heart and an even more insatiable body. Not that he resisted the idea the least bit.
'There's also the matter of Vital Human killer move. This is merely mortal killer move while Granny Mei Hua must have an immortal version. There's also that food path formation that allows a gu master to accumulate a certain number of dao marks before ascending.'
Lo Jik wasn't targeting Hu Mei Er's grandmother… not yet anyway. He discussed about this with Hu Mei Er. She only knew about this formation vaguely. However, this was a direction Lo Jik wanted to take.
His cultivation had stagnated due to Divine Concealment. Managing a blessed land was one aspect of gu immortal's cultivation. The other aspect still included nurturing, using, and refining the gu. The third aspect was to raise the rank of the immortal aperture origin core from rank 6 to rank 7, then rank 8, and then rank 9. In simpler terms, the third aspect of a gu immortal's cultivation was to raise one's cultivation rank.
'Actually…' Lo Jik's thoughts stirred. 'I should also spend my time researching Hu Immortal Blessed Land. It's an intact blessed land that survived seven earthly calamities. Its immortal aperture origin core is bound to be richer than mine and have minor differences. Understanding this secret of immortal cultivation will definitely make my future a lot easier.'
This idea did not emerge from nothing and was rooted in his attainment.
'In reality, intuition is the realm of a master. This intuition definitely strengthens as one's attainment rises, but I haven't been making the best use of my skills because of lacking time and gu worms.'
'But I can change all of that in this period.'
So, Lo Jik threw himself in cultivation like never before. He spent a lot of time managing his blessed land, improving his research on bandit monkeys and the product he envisioned, observing the eleven cities in his human path blessed land, studying Guts Gu all the while increasing his soul cultivation using them. Meanwhile, his clones continued accumulating theft, luck, painting, food, and various other paths results. Refiner and hairy men clones refined more and more clones.
Lo Jik already had a set of variant human clones and only lacked the beastmen race. There were also Thief, Painter, Monk, Chef, Farmer, Craftsman, Tamer, Doctor, Swordsman, Archer, Fire Breather, Magician, Author, Exorcist, Musician, Astrologer, and Seer Gu Worms.
Some of these clones were human path gu with only one sub-path effects.
Thief, Painter, Monk, Chef, Tamer, Doctor, Fire Breather, Magician, Author, Exorcist, Musician, Astrologer, and Seer fell in this category with theft, painting, strength, food, enslavement, poison, fire, illusion, information, soul, sound, star, and time paths as their sub-paths respectively.
Interestingly, Monk and Chef represented the other side of the coin for Wine Drinker and Martial Artist. Lo Jik initially wanted to refine a strength path clone that did not have any resistance to either type of strength path branches. However, such a clone possessed an extremely destructive mentality! Once used, it started attacking other clone in an uncontrollable rampage until Lo Jik took control.
Such a clone did not fit in Lo Jik's cultivation because he let his clones out freely to cultivate as they saw fit. Meanwhile, the clone created from Monk Gu was calm and collected, preferring to use Borrow Strength Gu over All-Out Effort Gu.
Similarly, Chef Gu was a food path clone that focused on solid food, unlike Wine Drinker Immortal Gu. These two clones preferred understanding food path through creating food. On the other hand, the clone with both their inclinations did not produce anything. It was even worse than the unified strength path clone and started eating all the gu in his path!
However, that instance was not without its benefits. Lo Jik understood crucial aspects of food path that time and continued on.
His otherworldly status also reflected in the naming of some of these gu worms.
The other clones had more than one sub-paths.
Farmer Gu boasted both wood and earth path effects. It resembled minimen in its profession but could not magically support the growth of vegetation with the presence of dao marks. Instead, it refined several gu worms meant to increase the fertility of the soil, providing incredible support in strength path blessed land.
Craftsman came into existence due to Lo Jik's earlier instinct of creating a clone gu with the effects of refinement, wisdom, and formation paths. This Craftsman Gu, however, only boasted the effects of refinement and formation paths. Spending time to deduce a recipe involving wisdom path effects along these two paths was ironically unwise. Lo Jik placed every craftsman clone in Immemorial Desolate Grotto-Heaven as they uncovered secrets of formation path and also refined several mortal gu houses. They were experts in deducing gu houses!
Swordsman, on the surface, should only boast sword path effects. However, Lo Jik made a discovery that he could not really separate blade path and sword path in such a clone. In reality, blade and sword path originated from the same gu worm. They were interlinked.
Lastly, Archer Gu.
This one was a curious and accidental discovery.
Being a master archer, Lo Jik had a desire to refine an archer clone. Making sure to follow this feeling, Lo Jik soon deduced a mortal recipe for this clone and refined it. It was supposed to be a pure human path gu that was good with bow and arrows. Once he observed the gu worm's dao marks, he realized there was something more to this gu!
It was an existence of a dao mark he had never visualized before.
Excited enough, Lo Jik quickly created several archer clones and used Dreamer Gu. Unfortunately, he encountered the same barrier as using Second Aperture Gu.
There were no dreams to be summoned.
But Lo Jik kept this discovery in his mind.
Being a human path great grandmaster was something else. In reality, Lo Jik's clone increased every day, not only in numbers but also in variety. They also provided great benefits.
Refining Exorcist Gu let Lo Jik employ several soul path clones to understand the making of Guts Gu once he recorded its dao mark composition using Scan the Dao Killer Move. Several other clones were busy deducing recipes for immortal gu worms. Even more racked their brains to solve the issue of Divine Concealment.
There was also Xin Cheng and Thief Gu clones. They worked on the accumulated theft path inheritances from Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable.
Any gu immortal from the sect, including first and second supreme elders, would go pale from shock if they learned of the pace with which Lo Jik was growing!
Lo Jik had to accommodate all these clones and constructed two more Pools of Wisdom.
Eventually, after a hundred days in Hu Immortal Blessed Land, Lo Jik accumulated enough rewards for six categories to go for golden achievements. He had been doing everything with Hu Mei Er. But some silver rewards of other five categories were too good to miss out, so he had to cash them in and restart their accumulation.
Restraining his glee, Lo Jik entered his treasure space with extreme familiarity.
<<<>>>
Six impressive lumps of light appeared in Lo Jik's view as he swallowed thickly.
'Bronze rewards summoned desolate beast corpses and other similar materials. Their value in immortal essence stones would be about 20-40 immortal essence stones. Sometimes I even obtained immortal essence stones themselves. There were also the rare case where the value of the corpse of desolate beasts might be significantly greater than the Treasure Yellow Heaven's rate, such as a corpse of a Nightmare Demonic Colt. But why would I summon this reward when a live one is significantly more valuable research material?'
'Silver rewards generally value at 100-120 immortal essence stones in Treasure Yellow Heaven, boasting larger portions of materials and living desolate. There were also two instances of summoning two young ancient desolate beasts, a Golden Cloud Qilin and Coral Forest Seahorse. Golden Cloud Qilin was from Bai La. Meanwhile, to summon other two living Nightmare Demonic Colts and a few other intriguing materials, I summoned the accumulation of silver rewards from five of Hu Mei Er's achievement, obtaining a young Coral Forest Seahorse in the process. Thankfully, I sold it for a good price and raised a good number of materials for Second Aperture Immortal Gu recipe.'
'According to convention, golden rewards might just summon adult ancient desolate beasts…'
He stepped forward. Like usual, he decided to observe the rewards based on their sizes, approaching the smallest lump of light first.
This lump of light was already human-sized. Surprising Lo Jik, there was another lump of light within the treasure space!
'This feeling…'
This lump of light was grand yet exquisite. It blossomed with an extremely archaic aura and invoked an ethereal sensation in Lo Jik.
'This… it has something to do with luck path.' Lo Jik's eyes brightened. 'It's no immortal material or beast. I see no other resources… it has to be an inheritance. A luck path inheritance… finally…'
Lo Jik desired a luck path inheritance for several reasons. First, a proper inheritance would give him a valuable direction and propel his luck path cultivation with one step. His luck path great grandmaster attainment could take care of the rest. Furthermore, he wanted to see if influencing his luck could better manage the rewards he summoned. There was also the matter of Love Gu.
He could never be sure when Love Gu might activate and what it might take from Lo Jik. He believed that luck path, dream path, and even human paths were suitable in influencing Love Gu. But he didn't even come close to deduce something of the sort.
His human path accumulation took the orthodox road of low to high. His clones represented the lower limits of human path. Going higher, there were gu worms like Extreme Aptitude, the Fake Gu series, Relic Gu series, and more. And he had only started to touch its upper limits through Accumulation Gu. There was much more left to do with human path!
Nothing needed to be said about dream path. Despite his attainment, Lo Jik was still a fledgling. Even now, he hadn't even started researching Dream Wings Immortal Gu.
And luck path.
'The value of this inheritance will determine if I should go ahead with focusing on dream path to increase my other attainments.'
A sharp light crossed Lo Jik's eyes.
'Luck path has always remained mysterious and its founder, Giant Sun Immortal Venerable, never spread it with others. Furthermore, this is a golden achievement from Hu Mei Er, who practices luck path, for me, a rank 6 gu immortal. I've obtained venerable inheritances for less…'
He nearly gave into the desire of summoning this reward right away.
Only one thought stopped him.
How great would be the other rewards?
He moved onto the next reward for his answer.
The next reward was truly shocking. The elephant-sized lump of light was filled with liquid. This liquid resembled a sea of ghostly-blue radiance instead of water.
'Could this be…' Lo Jik gulped. He truly could not let go of this reward, not after he already refined Fake Soul and was on his way to deducing the recipe of False Guts.
Fake Soul, False Guts!
Lo Jik giddily stepped aside and looked at the third reward.
'What the…'
In a larger lump was an unconscious beast Lo Jik had never seen before. It was nearly fifty meters tall and resembled a huge dark-green centipede with a yellowish underside. Strangely enough, five of its legs grew around its face like a claw or a demonic lotus, framing a fleshy opening upon which rested a masked face.
'I have never seen this ancient desolate beast before… interesting…' Lo Jik narrowed his eyes. Its appearing was shocking enough to give Lo Jik a start for the moment. But how could that be possible? He did not even flinch when an immemorial desolate beast swallowed him?
In fact, he retained his calm and contacted Old Man Desolate. Old Man Desolate's main body had extensively researched into several beasts in an attempt to create more core beasts. If anyone knew about the immemorial desolate beast's weakness, it would be Old Man Desolate.
Here?
Lo Jik was still momentarily shaken. His expression changed even when his heart was truly calm.
'An unknown human path ancient desolate beast that specifically targets the face. But why?' Lo Jik instantly understood several aspects of the beast with a glance. However, a deeper observation was required to fully comprehend the nature of this beast.
Lo Jik regathered his composure and walked towards the fourth lump of light.
'Hmm?' He frowned. This lump of light was quite sizeable but inside were only mortal gu worms.
This lump of light was packed with East Window Gu Worms. These gu worms were used to store information.
'Clearly half-an inheritance. But this is too much information!' Lo Jik was slightly shocked. 'Did my trait rob an entire blessed land off of its valued information… wait, East Window Gu… the initial information about Giant Sun's immortal gu house also came from an East Window Gu. Did I truly hit a connection with Lang Ya Blessed Land?!'
Wild joy flickered in his eyes. He was merely guessing right now.
If that was the case… all these gu worms would be filled to the brim with immortal gu recipes!
'No, more than that. It might have the rumored inheritances! I already deduced enough from the gu worm I obtained. It's most likely that Long Hair Ancestor demanded the two venerables' inheritances.'
'I taught Qin Juan Roaring Dragon Water Light especially because I wanted to hit a connection with Lang Ya Blessed Land. This killer move was modified from Slumbering Lightning Python, which I acquired from Lang Ya Blessed Land in the first place.'
'But if Long Hair Ancestor did obtain and retain Giant Sun's inheritance, it's not crazy to understand that my trait might have connected with Lang Ya due to Hu Mei Er.'
'The fifth reward.' Lo Jik couldn't move quicker. After all, he wanted to go through these inheritances at once!
The fifth lump of light was the size of a small mountain!
Because there was a small mountain inside it!
'A resource point! It can actually copy and summon a resource point at immortal level!'
'So…'
Lo Jik moved towards the final lump of light. It was humongous. Truly, it was the largest light of reward he had encountered until today. It was the size of a city!
Because…
There was a city inside it.
Lo Jik nearly fell unconscious as he saw the massive and impressive city. This was a mortal gu house.
To be honest, a mortal gu house had no place in rewards promising venerable inheritances and ancient desolate beasts.
However, this mortal gu house had an impressive origin. First, it was said to be formed by linking millions upon millions of mortal gu worms! Just the number of mortal gu worms should net a shocking price in Treasure Yellow Heaven. Furthermore, all these gu worms were of high rank and quality.
Lastly, the one who deduced and refined this mortal gu house was none other than humanity's first venerable, Primordial Origin Immortal Venerable.
Emperor City!
***
A/N: Hmm, too tired today to think of any alternate titles.
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