Shu Zhe and Bai Shou lay in the mattress the latter fell into. It wasn't until they made up for the fraction of lost months did the former sect leader began filling her partner about sect's current events, starting from her formal announcement.
"To think I would miss such an opportunity." Bai Shou lamented, making Shu Zhe chuckle.
After all, the so-called preliminary competition concluded some time ago, an event Bai Shou could have used to effortlessly secure Shu Zhe's position as the sect leader alongside earning a few more rare materials. Meanwhile, Shu Zhe observed Bai Shou's profile. Reaching out to stroke her consort's other cheek, she spoke softly.
"I now realize I was appointed as the elder to overlook the disciples entering this blessed land because of you."
Bai Shou blinked before turning to look at Shu Zhe.
"Good." She smirked, pecking Shu Zhe's lips. "I deserve proper reward for all my efforts."
Shu Zhe smiled at that.
"Nope. The reward is cancelled by the wrath you were expected to endure for disappearing for so long."
"It wasn't my fault." Bai Shou rolled her eyes.
"It seems you truly aren't a woman," Shu Zhe sat up slightly, schooling her features.
"Always acting reasonable and then suddenly claiming to hold irrational anger while blaming your feminine instincts doesn't suit a wisdom path gu master. It makes me wonder if you just want to shamelessly avoid rewarding me."
Shu Zhe admitted with a carefree smile.
"You got me."
Seeing Bai Shou freeze momentarily, Shu Zhe couldn't help but inquire.
"Did something happen?"
Bai Shou shook her head as she sat up.
"It's just… you look happier."
Shu Zhe blinked before recalling her experiences as the sect leader. For someone else, being forced out of such a prestigious position was nothing short of a nightmare. However, the more Shu Zhe revealed her brilliance, the greater the tribulations she had to endure from her grandmother.
Ever since Shu Zhe entered Hu Immortal Blessed Land, she found herself more focused and spirited. Naturally, the experienced wisdom path gu master knew it was due to the change in environment and the lack of the benefits she received as a sect leader would eventually catch up to her injured state.
But…
"I suppose I am."
Shu Zhe's smile grew wider.
Bai Shou nodded, adopting a more appreciative smile herself.
"Where are you going?" Shu Zhe asked as her consort got out of bed.
"Going out for some fresh air. The room kind of… you know."
Bai Shou looked over her shoulder, dressed in loose robes. She grinned teasingly.
"It smells of your happiness."
Shu Zhe rolled her eyes.
"You're equally guilty of that." She got out while adjusting her robes. "Do you want me to…"
Before she could finish her words, Bai Shou caught her hand with a snicker, dragging her out of the hut.
"My dear wife doesn't need to ask for my permission."
Bai Shou stepped out before suppressing her surprised hitch.
This blessed land was unlike the sect's public blessed land and wasn't modified to experience the celestial change of day and night. Instead, this blessed land was always bright.
The couple stepped out into the lush grassland, the blades of grass reaching their thighs. In the center of the blessed land stood a tall mountain! Unlike anything Bai Shou ever witnessed, it was like a gigantic, uncut, pink-colored crystal in its raw form growing endlessly from the ground. It caught light from various spots, reflecting a beautiful glow.
It was like an immortal jewel, casting dream-like light everywhere.
"That is…" Bai Shou couldn't believe her eyes. The increase in her soul's foundation suddenly made sense. She felt Shu Zhe's fingers interlocking with hers, the latter's voice uttering a name known to almost all gu masters and mortals alike.
"Dang Hun Mountain."
<<<>>>
Dang Hun Mountain, a forbidden ground, first appeared in <
Legend says that Verdant Great Sun flew towards the sky and ended plunging to his death.
Ren Zu, as his father, was extremely upset after receiving the news, finding Wisdom Gu for an explanation.
It was Wisdom Gu who taught Verdant Great Sun to drink, causing the series of events thereafter.
Wisdom Gu quickly said: "Ren Zu, oh Ren Zu, don't find trouble with me. Although your son died, it is not impossible to revive him. As long as you enter the Door of Life and Death, and lead him towards the Road of Life, walking under the sunlight, he would be revived."
Ren Zu was shocked, before becoming overjoyed, and then extremely furious.
He grabbed Wisdom Gu and questioned: "Wisdom Gu, oh Wisdom Gu, do you still think I am that ignorant boy from before? The Door of Life and Death is a dangerous place, once I enter, I will never be able to leave. After harming my son, do you want to kill me too?"
Wisdom Gu quickly said: "Other living beings do not know the secret of the Door of Life and Death. Thus, they cannot leave. But I can teach you all of these secrets."
"You are a living person. To enter the Door of Life and Death, you must enter from the Road of Death. This road is extraordinary because it was the road Fate Gu left behind when it left Fairness Gu. The road left behind was called path of destiny. There are many Suffering Gu inside the Road of Life, so you have to enter from the Road of Death, and you need to own Courage Gu. That way, you will not fear the torture of suffering."
"When you enter the Door of Life and Death, and see Fairness Gu, you are already dead. But at the same time, you will see your eldest son, Verdant Great Sun's soul. You will take him away, and go out from another road, the Road of Life. Road of Life was the path treaded on by Fate Gu when it visited Fairness Gu, it is also called the path of destiny."
"But in this path, you will meet three obstacles. One is Dang Hun Mountain, another is called Luo Po Valley, and lastly the Reverse Flow River. To climb past Dang Hun Mountain, you will have to smash the Gutstones on it and obtain Guts Gu's help. To get past Luo Po Valley, you need to find Faith Gu to help. To get through the Reverse Flow River, you have to move forward continuously, not stopping for even a second during the process."
Ren Zu heard Wisdom Gu's words and let it go.
He quickly found Faith Gu.
Ever since he became blind, Faith Gu's light was the only light he could see.
"Oh Ren Zu, I can feel your determination in getting back your eldest son. I am willing to help you, but I urge you not to give up on this goal. Because when you give up, I will leave you for good." Faith Gu said with concern.
Ren Zu found Courage Gu next.
Courage Gu and Hope Gu were good companions.
Ren Zu had Hope Gu, and thus saw Courage Gu occasionally, he had a decent relationship with it.
After getting Courage Gu's help, Ren Zu came to the Door of Life and Death, entering the Road of Death.
The Road of Death was pure darkness, the large number of Suffering Gu were like yellow fireflies, swarming towards Ren Zu. At this time, Courage Gu shone brightly, chasing away the Suffering Gu for Ren Zu.
Courage was needed to face death.
Ren Zu succeeded in going down, his body turned whiter as it turned hollow, gradually turning into a ghost.
He could "see" again.
When he got to the end of the road, amidst the calm darkness, he saw Fairness Gu.
He was extremely shocked by Fairness Gu's huge body, exclaiming: "You are Fairness Gu? Why is your body so huge? A mountain is a speck of dust compared to you. The sea is like a droplet compared to you."
Fairness Gu's voice was grand: "Life and death are the greatest fairness in this world, when I am inside the Door of Life and Death, my body will become enormous. Oh Ren Zu, you are here for your son right. Feel free to go, he is right there."
<<<>>>
"These are your remaining gu worms."
Shu Zhe handed Bai Shou the gu worms used to maintain the Empty Heart Formation as Bai Shou peeled her gaze from the precipitous legendary mountain. Again, Bai Shou reminded herself to remain cautious of the gu worms.
"I already had some idea your disappearance was tied to supreme elders." Shu Zhe revealed. "I was given these gu worms and asked to enter this blessed land after I announced the refinement competition. The top ten disciples from the competition already visited Dang Hun Mountain and enjoyed its benefits. I've also been allowed to experience its advantage based on my performance."
Still holding each other's hands, the couple moved through the grassland.
The grass around them grew in blades of six thin leaves, rustling with the gentle wind. When touched, they felt like soft jade. This was a pasture of Six Divine Grass, a common material in the refinement of a few enslavement path gu worms and could also be added in some rank 2 and 3 gu worm refinement recipes to boost the chance of success by 10-20%.
Such a sweeping pasture of Six Divine Grass would go for millions of primeval stones even if their use was dominant in low-ranked gu worms.
"I don't know exactly what happened." Bai Shou was honest. She didn't know what happened. Her usual accidental entries into self-dream realms were often short and she could escape effortlessly even without the use of certain gu worms like Shatter Dream. However, Bai Shou did not forget the mysterious circumstances forcing her to escape.
She tried using the Divine Travel Immortal Gu.
The fact she was still with the Spirit Affinity Sect meant either the immortal gu worm's activation was successful and she only teleported one step ahead from her position, or its activation failed, causing Bai Shou to suffer an extreme backlash that forced her to grow slightly muddled when she eventually entered another self-dream realm.
It led to Bai Shou getting lost in the dream, and when she came to be, she felt it was too late. The truth, however, was different. Her soul was kept from its dissipation using the treasure found inside Dang Hun Mountain.
At least, Bai Shou couldn't look away from a certain truth.
'Nina… How is Nina present in my dreams?' She was certain Nina in her self-dream realm wasn't a projection of her mind. It couldn't be.
Why?
Because Bai Shou never knew about Nina's trait. Even if the dream realm's Nina's trait was something Bai Shou's mind deluded on its own, the little giant believed in her intuition.
That was Nina.
"And that bothers you." Shu Zhe's statement brought Bai Shou back to the conversation as the latter shrugged.
"Why wouldn't it bother me?" She shook her head, letting out a frustrated sigh. "Nothing went the way I hoped for. I couldn't help you strike the iron when it was hot. I could have won the competition and gained a few resources that could help me tie up some deductions with actual refinement experience. And waking up, only to fall from the sky and land on your bed, wasn't the most ideal approach."
"If the master of the blessed land wasn't a supreme elder, I would have—"
"It's not a supreme elder."
Shu Zhe supplied.
"Things were under the wraps for a while, and the higher-ups are only now disseminating the information about Hu Immortal Blessed Land to other disciples, creating several missions with the rewards related to Dang Hun Mountain. Our sect won the blessed land last year based on mainland's time. I reckon our supreme elders had dozens of months to enjoy and exploit Dang Hun Mountain's benefits."
"Lucky bastards." Bai Shou muttered under her breath, feeling Shu Zhe's body seize in shock.
"Oh, don't be so dramatic." The unruly consort scoffed, a predatory glint in her eyes. She was quite aware of things by now, including the gu immortal from yesterday.
The sect tried prying into her memories, but things might not have gone their way. Why else would that strange supreme elder disappear without a word, looking as pale as a sheet of paper? Furthermore, why was she still alive if someone discovered the brilliant inheritances stashed in her head?
"What about honest trade?" She continued, hoping to test the sect's bottom line.
Hopefully, some gu immortal was eavesdropping on their conversation.
"It's enough." Shu Zhe warned.
"They think we can be suppressed because we're powerless?" Bai Shou shook her head. "Look at how they treated you. And I woke up only to become the butt of someone else's joke? I want to meet this blessed land's master and teach them a lesson. Hmph!"
A moment of silence followed her words, only for the rustling grass to fill the void.
Bai Shou met Shu Zhe's flat stare unapologetically.
"I had to try." Bai Shou shrugged as she knelt to pluck one of the cup-shaped milk tea flowers. These flowers were filled to the brim with nectar, popularly called milk tea. It was safe for consumption for humans and beasts alike.
Gulping the sweet and refreshing nectar in one go, Bai Shou exhaled in contentment.
"Hah!" She laughed. "I suppose the master of this blessed land truly is an impotent—"
Bai Shou appeared before a beautiful golden door.
"—bitch."
<<<>>>
'Even I fell victim to nostalgia.'
Shu Zhe wondered, watching the empty space beside her as Bai Shou got teleported to another location. She did not miss her slutty consort challenging superior opponents in hopes of measuring their bottom lines.
However, she wasn't worried for Bai Shou.
'As long as her mind is intact, she can help me find a way to deal with my injuries. So what if she gets her limbs crippled? It'll be a consequence of her action.'
The former sect leader shook her head.
'And her penis is a part of her giant transformation. It'll return uninjured every time she transforms.'
She plucked another milk tea flower, smilingly sipping the nectar.
<<<>>>
Meanwhile, Bai Shou observed the golden door. It was nearly four meters tall, almost the same height as the hall itself. Long, decorative candle stands were lined on either side of the hall, the tips of candles burning small. However, the light they produced was several times more intense and powerful than regular candles.
'Wicks made from red fox's fur.'
She registered the subtle scent. However, the true culprit behind such intense, torch-like glow was the wax used to create the candles.
'This wax is created from white sun flower's oil.'
Bai Shou approached the nearby candle stand, scrutinizing it.
She studied each detail, down to slight difference in polishing compared to the other stand.
After a few fruitful minutes, she turned on her heels and walked away from the tall and imposing golden door. Instead, she began exploring the manor.
While she couldn't identify the components used to form the walls, Bai Shou did recognize many potted plants and materials used for decorations.
Just as she was about to step into the open garden, Bai Shou's vision shifted, and she stood before the imposing golden entrance again.
Smirking, Bai Shou pressed her hand against the door before crying aloud, lamenting her weakness.
"Oh, no!" She spoke. "The land spirit said I cannot use my gu worms. How will I move this tall and heavy door?"
With that, she turned on her heels and calmly made her way to the open garden.
Of course, Bai Shou was prohibited from using her gu worms. But the earlier restriction had been lifted long ago. If someone was to keep a count, it happened a few minutes after Shu Zhe's second orgasm last night. Furthermore, the effects of the gu worms on her body were never suppressed.
Even so, Bai Shou was teleported before the grand door the second she was about to step into the garden.
Bai Shou pondered without moving.
'I am still unharmed. Anyone else in such a position would have already commanded the land spirit to attack and then heal me if only my survival was important.'
'I was in a dream for nearly five months! It's impossible for the supreme elders to ignore that.'
'Do they have some expectations for it? Or is it still about the human path? If only I had a clue as to what they truly desire.'
After all, Bai Shou would truly focus on the path the gu immortals had the highest expectation for. It meant more attention and hope for rewards. Sure, she had secrets. But who didn't? Did that mean Bai Shou did not want to earn more experience and eventually advance as a gu immortal?
No!
But being so cryptic and secretive was becoming more of a hassle for Bai Shou.
She moved towards the garden again.
Then again.
Again.
AGAIN!
'Every time the land spirit teleports me, they are forced to use their essence. However, I'm merely a mortal. The cost to teleport me is next to nothing. But I am costing the land spirit's master's time. Hmm. In hindsight, I should have asked for their name from Shu Zhe before starting all this. I guess my head isn't entirely in the game.'
Bai Shou organized her thoughts and grew calmer.
'If I were the blessed land's master, I would return to my task and let the land spirit play this game until the target got tired. However, someone who can be poked with just a few words cannot be considered a symbol of patience and tolerance.'
Even after tens of loops, Bai Shou remained unhurt.
'Did they leave things to the land spirit?' Bai Shou felt slightly doubtful. Her deductions and speculations cannot always be the truth because she was not an omniscient god, and she did not use the necessary wisdom path gu worms.
'Should I try something else?'
Bai Shou returned before the golden doors.
Her calculative gaze fell on the candle stands.
'How far am I allowed to go?'
Bai Shou smirked, suddenly reaching out for one of the stands and smacking it to the side. She did that to every other candle as the carpet caught fire.
She didn't move this time.
The fire around her grew fierce as Bai Shou took in a deep breath before the hall was filled with smoke.
Even as licks of fire neared her toes, it couldn't singe her flesh.
'Whoever this person is, either they have great virtue, or they are inexperienced.' Bai Shou ascertained.
Just as things grew out of control, Bai Shou's vision changed, and she appeared inside Shu Zhe's hut again.
Shu Zhe blinked, eating from the spoon already brought to her face.
"There's some smoke on you." She observed with a deadpan.
Bai Shou patted out the last of the fire from her robes, giggling.
"I forgot to ask who the impotent master was, Zhe'er."
Shu Zhe surprisingly smiled widely, a hint of schadenfreude tainting her eyes.
"It's Legacy Disciple—"
<<<>>>
"Feng Jin Huang! Sigh. Look at you." Bai La chided with a reproachful tone as Feng Jin Huang was red with anger.
"Me?" the granddaughter hissed. "I would have taught that bitch a lesson if you hadn't limited my actions! She was infuriating!"
Feng Jin Huang was apoplectic with rage!
Bai Shou not only successfully got on her nerves but also destroyed a good section of her home! All she had to do was step through the entrance like a normal human being.
Bai La observed her granddaughter before issuing a disappointed sigh.
"Oh, Huang'er. I merely revealed to you that us supreme elders must approach Bai Shou cautiously. Whenever did I limit you?"
Feng Jin Huang froze.
Bai La looked dignified, holding her granddaughter with a critical gaze.
"Did you consider your worth equivalent of us gu immortals? Such arrogance!"
"No!" Feng Jin Huang hurriedly shook her head, lowering it and unable to meet Bai La's gaze. Her grandmother's assessment was right on the mark. With her talents, background, and now a blessed land under her control, Feng Jin Huang felt becoming a gu immortal was a mere eventuality. Her battle power was nothing to scoff at, and her gu set was meticulously arranged to reveal astonishing might, something comparable to rookie gu immortals without proper foundation to grow.
Bai La snorted coldly.
Bai Qing and Feng Jiu Ge might often berate or lecture their daughter, but it was Bai La who always held the stick, motivating Feng Jin Huang to achieve clarity and walk the right path.
"Listen up!" Bai La narrowed her eyes. "You have become content with your current achievements!" Secretly, Bai La admired her granddaughter even more than her no-good son-in-law. It was because of this admiration she felt annoyed at Feng Jin Huang's unrefined nature.
"Must I guide you about everything with the tiniest detail?" Bai La shook her head, criticizing Feng Jin Huang with nothing held back.
"Not only did you over-inflate your worth, your earlier attempts at building a network with a clearly important party also failed. What was that nonsense about acting as Ge Qu? Is your name Ge Qu? Are your parents muddleheaded and hit their head when they named you Jin Huang?!"
"No! You had to be playful and coy!"
"Even now, you may not have given Bai Shou a reason to feel distant from you. No. Instead, you gave her a reason to look down on you!"
Feng Jin Huang was shocked.
"Look down on me?"
"Hmph!" Bai La crossed her arms. "You were childish. So be it if you lose your cool. Even if you thought you couldn't beat her, what was the point of teleporting Bai Shou over and then sending her off?"
"If I had opened the door for Bai Shou…"
Feng Jin Huang grew quiet, struggling to get those words out of her mouth.
"You felt you would lose?" Bai La finished her sentence coldly.
Feng Jin Huan pursed her lips.
"I suggest organizing your priorities if you're concerned about losing or winning in a competition that doesn't matter. Open your eyes and grow out of your victories. Just think for a moment."
"Does it matter if you became the blessed land's master? Who helped you maintain the materials and expand their worth? Who was it that dealt with the consequences of earlier tribulations still present inside the blessed land? And who was it that tackled the most recent tribulation?"
"Your parents! The Sect!"
"What would you achieve by becoming the blessed land's master aside from dying to the tribulation?"
Feng Jin Huang recalled the dangerous tribulation and felt dejected.
But that feeling did not last for more than a second.
She cupped her fist and regained her composure.
"I understand, Grandmother. I will rectify my mistakes and spend more time practicing refinement of gu worms to prepare for the refinement path convention."
Feng Jin Huang stood out not only in talent but also temperament. All she required was the right guidance. Instead of letting life do that with its cruel lessons, Bai La wished to shield her granddaughter from some bitter moments and quickly help her reclaim her bearings.
"Hmm." Bai La nodded as satisfaction filled her eyes.
"Good," she said. And while more than strict on her granddaughter, Bai La couldn't really leave her without clues. What grandmother would knowingly make her sweet pumpkin-grape's life a hell?
"Don't be so concerned for Bai Shou. Isn't she already in your debt?"
Bai La smiled and left for her room, leaving Feng Jin Huang slightly confused before the latter's eyes widened in comprehension.
Indeed!
Bai Shou owed Feng Jin Huang a great debt!
A debt of life!
***
Alternate Title: Making Up for Lost Time; Filling Shu Zhe to Get Filled Up on Current Events; Shu Zhe's Happiness Might Just be Fragrant; Shu Zhe's the Prime Example of Workplace Toxicity Smh; Feng Jin Huang Lost Dick Measuring Contest; Shu Zhe's Priority List: Healing and Dicking; Shu Zhe's a Simple Gu Master Indeed; Straight Back to Scheming; Bai Shou: Gu Immortals? What About Them! Let Them All Come! *Disappears Using the Divine Travel Immortal Gu*; Gu Immortals: Cautious in Approaching Bai Shou Since her Talents With the Dream Path; Bai Shou: Equally Cautious of Gu Immortals; Both Parties AF: Give Me a Sign it's Fine to Befriend Each Other, Damn It!; An Annoying Stalemate; Bai La's Criticism; Bai La: Who Do You Think You Are *Feng Jin Huang: The Future Great Dream Immortal Venerable* *Meanwhile, Great Love Dancing in Liver Formation in the Distance*
***
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