Qin Juan concentrated and controlled several gu worms while diverting some attention to the lump of pale-blue fire floating before her. The lump of fire was the size of an adult's head, making her sweat-soaked face appear even paler. The fire reflected in her eyes, seemingly reinforcing the fire of determination burning in the depth of her black orbs. The aura of a rank 4 gu worm started to escape the lump of fire. Her refinement had reached a crucial step!
'Now!'
Qin Juan spread her hands open. Blue radiance emerged from her palms, covering her hands in spheres of moving light mimicking water. She activated her refinement path killer move completely as the radiance intensified and formed a shadow of a giant flood dragon! The flood dragon made from blue light roared soundlessly in the air before flying out like it was riding tidal waves.
This was a rank 5 refinement path killer move.
The blue flood dragon coiled around the pale-blue lump. The lump of fire was incomparably small in front of the radiant blue dragon. Once the dragon coiled the lump of fire, it exploded in sharp flash of light and a resounding dragon's roar! The lump of fire instantly condensed by more than sixty percent under the effects of the dragon's roar. The dragon made from light also turned smaller. It soon became a serpent made of water-like blue light.
Qin Juan did not dare look away despite the sharp brightness. She controlled the final step of the killer move and refinement process at once as the serpent flew in the air and coiled tightly. The next second it shot down on the condensed lump of fire and smashed into it!
*Bam*
Light exploded outwards followed by the aura of a completed rank 4 gu worm!
"Huff…" Qin Juan exhaled slowly as she did not care about how sweat-soaked she got. The path of cultivation was more uncomfortable than just her clothes sticking to her body. Instead, she stared at the results with a bright gaze.
'Success.' She held the rank 4 water path gu worm. Qin Juan was a refinement path gu master specializing in water refinement. Her methods of refinement involved different aspect of water and were milder compared to fire and metal refinement. It also suited her personality.
Qin Juan walked out of the refinement chamber and met two pairs of curious gazes. The corner of her eyes twitched as she noticed the flush on Sun Yao's cheeks, the beads of sweat rolling down to her neck, and the few loose strands of hair sticking outwards. Still, Sun Yao's eyes were wide and innocuous like the junior sister she had always been to Qin Juan and Feng Jin Huang.
'How long does she plan on acting we don't know?' Qin Juan mused. But… she also did not want to ruin her junior sister's fun. It was only fair for Sun Yao to get interested in Lo Jik when Qin Juan and Feng Jin Huang led the way with their own examples. Though, Qin Juan never expected Sun Yao to be so 'devious.'
She smiled at Sun Yao and raised the gu worm in her hand.
"Success! You did it senior sister!" Sun Yao clapped her hands in sincere joy, warming Qin Juan's heart. Meanwhile, Lo Jik stayed seated with a pleased smile.
"Thank you, Jik—"
Lo Jik cut Qin Juan's gratitude short with a wave of her hands.
"Don't start treating me different now that I'm a gu immortal, Juan'er. I'm still the same man. I'm just glad I can finally help you girls too. In reality, I should be the thankful one… you have no idea how much all of you mean to me."
Qin Juan and Sun Yao blushed slightly at his honest confession as the former's heart nearly soared out of her chest with bliss and joy.
She hurriedly walked towards Lo Jik and sat down besides him. Sun Yao also followed suit and sat on the other side.
"This refinement path killer move is truly too amazing," Qin Juan admitted. "I refined four rank 4 gu worms consecutively over the last two weeks and succeeded every time."
Lo Jik rubbed the tip of his nose, boasting.
"Well? What did you expect? I'm a talent even more frightening than Lord Feng. In reality, I already have a grandmaster attainment in all the paths and am well on my way to become great grandmaster in them all!"
Qin Juan merely smiled at his words even if she did not believe him. It wasn't that she did not want the best for Lo Jik the same way he did for her, but she knew the difficulty of accumulating attainment. Heck, she wasn't even a refinement path master yet despite decades of cultivation!
Sun Yao, however, opened her eyes widely and looked Lo Jik with a starry, awe-struck gaze.
"Really?" She squeaked. "That is amazing, Senior Brother!"
Lo Jik's smile broadened as he nodded.
"Either way," he coughed after a moment, "this refinement path killer move, Roaring Dragon Water Light, is filled with great refinement path profundity. It will surely help you, Juan'er."
His meaningful words caught her attention as Qin Juan's heart skipped a beat.
Lo Jik met her gaze and nodded slightly, transmitting secretly, "Treasure this killer move with your life, Juan'er. Practice it well. It will help your refinement path journey."
In reality, Qin Juan had already benefitted greatly from this killer move.
Killer moves were not just activation of multiple gu worms. A gu master needed to spend unimaginable time and effort to use gu worms with certain relationships together, producing an even greater effect. Roaring Dragon Water Light killer move utilized refinement and water path gu worms. These gu worms had a great affinity with each other. Studying this relationship between these gu worms already deepened Qin Juan's understanding of refinement path.
Furthermore, every gu refinement recipe required slight modifications at the higher level. In this instance, to refine this rank 4 water path gu worm, Qin Juan had to modify the gu recipe accordingly to include the effects of Roaring Dragon Water Light killer move. Experiencing these modifications in relationship of this killer move also improved her understanding of the killer move as she felt it had greater mysteries than what one might assume at a glance.
After all, Qin Juan never had such result of successfully refining four rank 4 gu worms consecutively!
Seeing her gaze shift and understanding her thoughts, Lo Jik smiled and turned to look at Sun Yao.
"And you. Be sure to study my experiences. They are going to prove useful."
Unlike gifting a killer move to Qin Juan, Lo Jik instead handed Sun Yao a copy of his experiences. These experiences were significantly censored but were filled with his understanding towards the gu world. In reality, Qin Juan and Feng Jin Huang spoiled Sun Yao a lot. They were too protective of this woman but Lo Jik knew how much more potential lay dormant within her. It would be too much of a waste to let it rot! And… needless to say, Lo Jik was also selfish. He wanted Sun Yao to prosper because she'd grown on him.
"H-How long will you be gone for?" Qin Juan asked softly as Lo Jik sighed softly.
"I only have a year in Hu Immortal Blessed Land. The situation outside is not looking good. Eventually, I will have to take on the responsibility of Tian Ti Mountain and gu immortals of other nine ancient sects will try suppressing me. This is the most valuable chance to strengthen my soul and improve. But once I emerge from my secluded cultivation, I will surely take you all out to enjoy various sights!"
He laughed while Sun Yao and Qin Juan felt a chill in their hearts!
Sights?
What sights?!!
They did NOT want to encounter immemorial desolate beasts or get chased by ancient desolate beasts! Spirit Affinity House had already spread the news as Central Continent went into a short commotion. Even if Love Gu was involved, essentially, Lo Jik was the one who held a stalemate with an immemorial desolate beast!
Too dangerous!
"Haha! Don't worry! It's not always going to be immemorial desolate beasts chasing after me. We might also encounter demonic gu immortals! So be sure to cultivate diligently."
Lo Jik soon left and met with Ju Lin. After imparting her with a few gifts, he moved towards Dang Hun Mountain.
Black Moon was the supreme elder currently appointed to Hu Immortal Blessed Land. However, Dang Hun Mountain was also Feng Jin Huang's possession.
Lo Jik already bade his farewell to Shu Zhe and did not need to give her anything else. She was still digesting the wisdom path inheritance he modified from Nine-Headed Schemer's true inheritance.
The only one remaining was Feng Jin Huang, and boy did it make Lo Jik feel slightly complex.
These inheritances did not appear out of nothing. In essence, Lo Jik was sharing the rewards he gained from his trait—which came from these girls. For instance, Roaring Dragon Water Light was an extremely pale and limited imitation of one of the top four refinement path immortal killer moves he modified—Slumbering Lightning Python immortal killer move! This reward originally came from Qin Juan herself. Roaring Dragon Water Light still preserved the essence of Slumbering Lightning Python and completely understanding this mortal killer move should push Qin Juan's attainment to the realm of a master.
Now, following his intuition of luck and dream path, Lo Jik met with Feng Jin Huang with several ideas.
"You really gave us a scare, huh," Feng Jin Huang spoke with a cold smile. "It's a shame that you survived."
Lo Jik shrugged and grabbed her by the waist before embracing her even as her lips puckered with disdain. She still held a grudge against Lo Jik for the event she and her grandmother will never mention due to an unspoken but tacit agreement.
"It's a shame that I have to spend my entire duration in the blessed land away from you all." He corrected her with a wicked grin. "Oh? Could it be that you're angry because I'm here after visiting everyone else and left you for the last?"
Feng Jin Huang snorted coldly while meeting his gaze with obvious jealousy.
"Don't you know me?" He planted a chaste kiss on her cheek before whispering into her ear. "I save the best for the last. You cannot even imagine what gifts I come bearing… I do hope it's enough to appease your wrath the slightest bit."
"We'll see…" Feng Jin Huang muttered as she finally relaxed.
They took their seats as Feng Jin Huang observed Lo Jik with anticipation.
There was no exaggerated fanfare as Lo Jik handed her an information path gu worm. Feng Jin Huang accepted it and observed its content before her eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets!
"This is—!" She shot Lo Jik an incredulous stare. The information path gu worm was incredibly valuable! After her experience in Bai La's dream realm, she knew the value of this information presently matched Dang Hun Mountain! The other nine ancient sects would throw caution to the wind to get this information!
After all, this gu worm contained Lo Jik's dream path research results!
Feng Jin Huang's eyes turned red and her voice choked with emotion. She asked in a slightly hoarse tone.
"Why?"
Lo Jik leaned back on his seat and repeated her question.
"Why… why… I've been asking this question myself the entire journey from my refinement hut to your residence. Why indeed. Why did you obtain a dream path immortal gu worm when you were young? Why did you suddenly enter Bai La's dream realm on your own and survived for so long? Huang'er… are you aware of Immortal Yi Yan's prophecy of three venerables?"
Jin Huang was stunned but she nodded dazedly.
"According to Immortal Yi Yan's prophecy, Spectral Soul Demon Venerable and Paradise Earth Immortal Venerable rose in their great eras and passed away. Everyone is waiting for Great Dream Immortal Venerable."
Lo Jik's gaze turned sharp as he sat straighter and met Feng Jin Huang's gaze.
"I don't think your refinement of Dream Wings Immortal Gu was a mere coincidence or some fortuitous encounter. I think it was a sign. There are even more signs of dream path's emergence. Bai La's tribulation was the clearest one. It was unexpectedly a dream path tribulation!"
"Other super forces must not be lacking in dream path research if Spirit Affinity House is already taking concrete steps in developing dream path."
"But what does it have anything to do with me?!" Feng Jin Huang snapped. This gift was too valuable! It instantly messed her mind as she could not even begin to think about repaying this great favor to Lo Jik. He should know the value of this research but he still gave it to her…
"The dream path research I sold Fairy Yi was about twenty percent of the one in your hands." Lo Jik ignored her question and smiled. "What do you think, Huang'er? Do you like it?"
"Answer me!" Feng Jin Huang hissed. The weight of the gu worm in her hands increased with every passing second. This gift was too valuable. It was like depending entirely on Lo Jik! This was not the kind of relationship she wanted to nurture with Lo Jik. She always looked up to her parent's love and relationship. Bai Qing didn't always ask Feng Jiu Ge for every little thing. They were both still relatively independent yet found comfort and peace in each other's arms. Sure, her relationship with Lo Jik wasn't exactly the same, but he was not far from an ideal man. Not only was he responsible and took every chance to adore and comfort her, he was also very much tall. She always felt safe around him, and this feeling came about even when he was still Bai Shou. Taking such a gift was no different from taking unfair advantage of Lo Jik in Feng Jin Huang's mind.
So be it if they were only business partners like before. She would take this gift without hesitation… but she couldn't do that now, not after he risked his life to protect and rescue Bai La and herself.
Her demand made Lo Jik silent as he opened his mouth to answer before going silent. Feng Jin Huang didn't push him and only observed quietly. He was clearly hesitating about something as the silence blanketing the hall extended for a couple of minutes before he sighed deeply.
"I feel small, Huang'er." He sank in his chair, deflating with a gloomy expression. "You have no idea how much I've been stressing over protecting you all." He added before she could say anything. "I know, you don't want me to do that. But I can't help it. I want to be strong and able. I want to protect you all. That's who I am. I'd massacre thousands to save anyone of you."
He smiled bitterly before meeting her gaze.
"Not very righteous of me, right?"
Feng Jin Huang's emotions grew overwhelming as she left her chair in a swift motion and jumped him. The chair was surprisingly sturdy as it did not break or fall back once Lo Jik caught the blonde firecracker with a precise motion.
"I… I'd do the same for you…" She sobbed and hugged him tightly.
"Hey… don't cry…" Lo Jik chuckled weakly. "That wasn't my intention."
"Hmm, I know." She pressed her head in his chest before complaining in an accusatory tone. "And who told you I don't want you standing up for me, you illicit bastard! Don't you ever get the wrong idea. I want you to work your butt off for my whims and comforts!"
He laughed a little louder, agreeing at once.
"I understand."
"Now tell me about this dream path research. What's going on?" She asked without showing any intentions of letting go. Sighing softly in response, Lo Jik explained his reasons. He wasn't lying for the sake of it. He read many records, including thousands of legends from different eras, and all showed the same trend.
"I fear for you, Huang'er. It feels like you are meant to be… a stepping stone."
"A stepping stone?"
"Hmm." Lo Jik spoke clearly, "Every great era begins with similar signs. Great experts rise and pale in comparison to that one gu immortal who would rise above all and forever be immortalized with the title of a Venerable! I don't want you to become a stepping stone for some dream path gu master who cultivated in secret and targeted you for your immortal gu worm. I also don't want you to grow into a great expert only to become someone else's nourishment in the form of a true inheritance hundreds of years later. To be honest, I really hate prophecies. Look at me? It's got me worked up like this."
However, Feng Jin Huang only felt at bliss due to his concerns and attention.
"Then what do you want?" She asked softly.
"Everything." He grinned.
Feng Jin Huang looked up and shot him a flat glare through her tear-stained face. "I mean presently."
"Ah. I want… I want you to become a dream path gu immortal."
She was shocked. Noticing this, Lo Jik continued calmly.
"Fairy Yi discussed this possibility with me. You know about Divine Concealment. Becoming a dream path gu immortal would have been easy for me in this era because I won't be affected by any tribulations. That said, I would become a source of dream path materials. Unfortunately, I was forced by circumstances to become a strength path gu immortal… and the fact that I possess Great Strength True Martial Physique also played a role in my decision."
"But you have a great affinity with dream path, Huang'er. You also inherited Dang Hun Mountain! It's only an eventuality before your benefits will accumulate. You have the chance of becoming a great dream path expert and explore any number of dream realms without worrying for your soul because of Guts Gu!"
Feng Jin Huang was visible moved. She hesitated for a moment before questioning with slight mischief.
"And?"
"And…" Lo Jik smirked. "Wouldn't it be something if you accumulate this advantage until becoming the star of this prophecy, Great Dream? That way I'd be married to a venerable! I want to help you along the way, not to see you stagnate as some expert but to truly achieve greatness known only to a handful of people throughout our history."
Feng Jin Huang rolled her eyes before slowly letting go.
Just as she was about to thank Lo Jik, he coughed and blushed. It was a strange reaction before Feng Jin Huang realized something. She instantly demanded and looked through Lo Jik's antics.
"What is it? All this sweet-talk was done on purpose! I should have known that you were up to no good! Speak, what do you want!"
Lo Jik lowered his head and batted his eyelashes cutely. Of course, this expression on a man of his handsome features came across as absolutely disgusting.
"I hope you can lend me Dream Wings Immortal Gu for one year to further my research of dream path."
Feng Jin Huang's glare surprisingly softened.
"Oh?" She grinned. "You're lucky you chose your words correctly. Sure. But…"
"Yeah." Lo Jik agreed as he spoke seriously. "We should still create a contract for our protection. I don't want others to covet this dream path research result. Don't let anyone know about it, Huang'er. I never managed to get past the wall of rank 4 gu worms and wanted to study Dream Wings to conceptualize rank 5 dream gu recipes. I also thought of some killer moves but didn't come any close at the moment."
Feng Jin Huang nodded.
Borrowing Dream Wings was truly crucial to Lo Jik. Not only did he want to advance Dreamer Gu to rank 6, but he also wanted to understand more secrets of dream path.
So, this coming year, not only would he be busy researching luck, theft, painting, pill, dream, food, and human paths, he would also spend a good portion of time studying Dang Hun Mountain to understand the secrets of Guts Gu. A stronger soul was needed to explore dream realms, that much he knew.
And in the web of lies he weaved today, in the center was caught one nugget of truth.
Lo Jik truly wanted to be able to protect them all.
***
Alternate Title: Lo Jik sharing 0.1% of the rewards and gaining enough favor to breed hundred more rewards; The smut business; Qin Juan and the rest: What exactly Lo Jik and Sun Yao do when alone? Where is the smut chapter?!; Spectral Soul: We will delay the great era and kill Great Dream seed! *Lo Jik: Bonjour*; Lo Jik: I want you to become Great Dream Venerable, Huang'er *Heaven's Will: Wait a minute… this guy is an ally?*; Imminent training arc; Lo Jik wants to travel with the girls like other immortal couples *All the immemorial beasts of Central Continent: I sense a disturbance in the force*; Lo Jik: There is a hidden strength inside you! Unleash it all, Sun Yao! *Sun Yao Af: Becomes SSJ 2*; Meet Rizzsanity's potential woman: Sun Yao; Sun Yao: A sweet, kinky pacifist… not like Gohan; Lo Jik unintentionally replacing Boomer Long; Boomer Long: Do you believe in fate, Feng Jin Huang? *Gen Rizz Lo Jik: Let's climax over fate to fuck over heaven's will one more time, Huang'er!*; Lo Jik: I'm speaking the truth! I'm a grandmaster in all the paths *His harem visibly concerned for his well-being while playing along*; Lo Jik: Everything is up to you now, Huang'er… also, lend me your dream path immortal gu pookie; Future Great Dream Venerable? Jealous?
***
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