Ancestral Grotto, Capital City, Bao Wen Academy
A group of young gu master sat in the courtyard of the Bao Wen Academy, surrounded by blooming cherry blossom trees. The gentle breeze carried the sweet fragrance of the flowers, as they discussed the recent events.
"Did you guys hear the news?" - Asked Yu Lingxin.
Jin Ju: "Yes, I noticed there are more and more sect members recruited like us."
"I doubt they are anything like me. A high-born genius with an A grade aptitude..." - Ye Jianhong puffed out his chest as he bragged.
"Just look around," - Zhao Min pointed. "It wouldn't surprise me if there were more A grade talents than B grade overall."
"Brother Zhao makes sense. Except his aptitude, ours were originally lower and its all thanks to gu worms that we reached the level of A grade." - Added Jin Ju.
Ye Jianhong cast a disapproving gaze at Jin Ju. It reminded him of his original aptitude that was shy of reaching B grade.
"Oh, stop teasing, you jerk. I'm only at B grade." - Yu Lingxin punched Jin Ju's shoulder in jest.
"Ah sorry, sister Lingxin, I didn't mean it like so... But surely you are not far from A grade." - Jin Ju laughed awkwardly.
"You know it, my aptitude is at seventy-nine percent, so practically A grade." - She said confidently.
Ye Jianhong: "Hahaha, sister is impressive. If you need any advice from an A grade talent, you can just look for me." - He pointed his thumb at himself.
Zhao Min listened on and rarely spoke. He was internally frustrated as they had to wait. He would rather be elsewhere than be ordered around.
The sound of rustling leaves and the distant chatter of other students filled the air, creating a peaceful atmosphere. Despite the calmness, there was an underlying excitement and eagerness in their voices.
Jin Ju: "Sister, did you find out why we got summoned again?"
Yu Lingxin: "Nothing concrete, but I heard there will be another round of missions sometimes after the first one. The new members would get the same herb gathering mission we did. I expect we will get another task."
"Good. I'm itching to try out my new gu worms." - Ye Jianhong rubbed his palms in anticipation.
"Did you all get..." - She looked around before continuing. "Those gu worm as well?" - She asked in a low voice.
Their gazes met in understanding.
Jin Ju and Ye Jianhong nodded quietly.
Zhao Min: "I only got one gu to add to my techniques. The rest of them felt inferior."
Yu Lingxin did not expect all the others to also rely on the Three Demon's Inheritance because they already had their own one.
At the next moment, a letter gu landed on the table before them. It was right before Zhao Min.
"It's from Steward Jie. It seems like our mission is here." - Yu Lingxin said.
All of them looked at the letter in anticipation.
Zhao Min picked up the gu and activated it.
"It's me again? Why am I leading a group mission repeatedly?" - Zhao Min thought to himself in annoyance as he looked into the contents of the gu.
"I guess it's still better than being ordered by any of them..." - He sighed as he looked at his companions in acceptance.
"What does it say, quickly tell us too!" - Yu Lingxin was eager to hear it.
Zhao Min cleared his throat before he began.
"This mission is to investigate the whereabouts of a group of bandits that have been causing trouble in the nearby villages. We need to find out where they are and capture them. We have to do it in the next few days."
"Sounds like a good opportunity. We might find some valuables they have!" - Jin Ju was excited.
"Yeah, let's do it!" - Ye Jianhong agreed, cracking his knuckles pompously.
Yu Lingxin looked around and saw the determination in everyone's eyes.
"Alright then, let's go!" - She said, as they all rose up and began to prepare for the mission.
* * * * *
Ancestral Grotto, Great Root Manor
The grand hall of the Great Root Manor was decorated with lanterns and banners, and tables were arranged in a circular shape around a large central stage.
The immortals of the Bao clan were all gathered, dressed in their finest robes, and chatting excitedly as they awaited the start of the banquet.
At the head of the table sat the grotto lord and first supreme elder, Bao Lang Chao, a dignified and imposing figure with a sharp gaze and an unreadable expression.
He raised his hand, and the chatter in the hall slowly died down.
"My fellow clansmen," - He began, his voice echoing throughout the room.
"Tonight, we gather to celebrate our glory. This is our last formal gathering before the annual competition."
"Before we begin, let us give thanks to our ancestors who have blessed us with their favor!" -Bao Lang Chao continued, as a group of servants brought forth platters of fruit and wine.
The immortals raised their cups in a toast, and the hall was filled with the sound of clinking glasses and laughter.
As the feast continued, plates of steaming dumplings, succulent meats, and fragrant soups were brought forth, and the immortals ate and drank to their heart's content.
The dishes were naturally beyond mortal standards, touching upon the intricacies of food path.
As the banquet progressed, Bao Lang Chao felt the time was right. He once again stood up address the crowd.
"As you all know the situation, Wen clan has betrayed us all. They have forced our hands, leaving us no other option but to teach them a lesson in return."
The immortals looked at him expectantly. Everyone knew this years event would be different from all the previous ones.
"We will not be belittled or humiliated! Our glory will outshine their treachery. And this is just the beginning. A plan of a hundred years have come to its next step!"
The immortals took a deep breath as they heard this. The atmosphere was palpable.
"Out foundations are deep and our roots span far and wide. Through the hard work and countless sacrifices we reached the current stage." - He paused for a brief moment.
"The Wen clan thinks they have the advantage with their experts in many paths. But they are like rootless weeds floating in the air when compared to our Bao clan. Our resources are abundant and our experts are peerless. When the test of time is before us, it will be us who surpasses the other."
The immortals nodded in agreement. Bao Lang Chao smiled and continued.
"This time, our Bao clan will step on the path of superiority we rightfully deserve!" - He continued in an elevated voice.
The Bao clan immortals clenched their fists and nodded in along.
"This time, we will prove, the fire that burns within all our hearts is not to be underestimated!" - His words reverberated through the whole Great Root Manor.
"For the Bao clan!" - The immortals cheered and raised their fists in the air in unison.
Bao Lang Chao smiled to himself in satisfaction. Everything was unfolding as he expected.
Soon after his rhetoric, the crowd returned to their plates and chattering.
The circle of the three supreme elders sat together.
"Lang Chao, you haven't had a grandiose speech like that since you became the grotto lord." - Bao Yijun noted.
"It was very touching, I even felt my blood boil as I was listening." - Added Bao Chi Ping his flattery.
"Mmm, it was good because I prepared it. Just as our clan has prepared, our result will also be good." - Bao Lang Chao raised his cup and drank a sip of wine.
Bao Yijun: "I expect, the Wen clan will not be able to keep their cool for long. Without our trade of resources, they will suffer."
Bao Chi Ping: "They are restrained by their own grotto, they can only add so many floating islands before there is no more space left. It is already very chaotic how they trace their routes, and it will only become worse the more islands they decide to create."
"In the meanwhile we are unrestrained in our growth, when a Bao clan gu immortal dies their foundation becomes the clan's foundation. This is already the point where the ancestors' long term plan is bearing fruit." - Bao Lang Chao nodded in agreement before turning to the second supreme elder.
"Yijun, how are the preparations for the competition, how big of an advantage can we expect?" - Bao Lang Chao asked her.
Bao Yijun: "The gu master promotions are in the last stage. We increased the count of our low rank gu masters to two fold and the mid-to-high rank to over one and a half fold."
"That in itself is enough to wipe the competition, but for unexpected scenarios we still have that person as a trump card." - She continued.
Bao Lang Chao: "Good. I want to see their faces, when they realize they have to pay all five portions of resources back."
Bao Chi Ping: "Lady Yijun is as meticulous as ever. With your plan, our victory is as good as set in stone." - He raised his cup, praising.
"Cheers! To victory!"
"To victory!" - Bao Lang Chao raised his cup and drank it in one go.
* * * * *
Xu Lian Blessed Land
Bao Zhi's steps were light as he walked among the rows of desolate Brain Melon plants, his gaze scanning the area with a peace of mind.
He was practicing his new human path killer move, Concealed Human Qi, for hours upon hours. As he moved, his muscles rippled under his skin, and his hair flowed behind him like a black banner in the wind.
Xu Lian's will was busy tending to the Brain Melons, carefully pruning the vines and checking for any signs of disease or deformities.
He was so focused on his task that he didn't notice Bao Zhi's approach until he was fifteen steps from him.
"Ancestor!" - Xu Lian exclaimed, startled. "You surprised me."
Xu Lian's will jumped in fright as he realized it was just his ancestor when Bao Zhi stepped out of the rows of Brain Melons.
A light and mysterious smile appeared on Bao Zhi's face.
This confirmed to him, his killer move, Concealed Human qi was effective even against wills as well.
"How is the progress?" - He asked Xu Lian's will.
"Good. Very good, Ancestor. The plants are growing without a hitch. I expect them to mature in the coming days."
Bao Zhi nodded to himself and continued his stroll, circulating his human qi in and out of his body as he practiced.
After a short while Xu Lian's will rose up into the air.
This was nothing unusual, every time the will reported back to Xu Lian's body it would do so and return to him.
But this time the will came back sooner than expected. No, it would be better to say it didn't even leave the blessed land before returning.
Xu Lian's will hesitated for a moment. He wasn't sure if he should tell Bao Zhi or not. After all, his ancestor was busy practicing his killer move.
"No, this is an emergency!" - He thought.
"Ancestor! Ancestor!" - Xu Lian's will flew after Bao Zhi in a hurry.
"Tell me." - Bao Zhi said without turning.
"There is a problem. I can't reach my main body, I'm unable to leave the blessed land." - He explained in a distressed voice.
This was without precedent, the immortal aperture's entrance was under the immortal's sole control. So how could this happen?
"Hmm..." - Bao Zhi hummed as he looked up at the sky.
"Have you tried contacting your main body?" - He asked after a moment of thought.
"Yes, Ancestor. I have tried multiple times, but there is no response from him."
Xu Lian's voice was filled with worry.
"I'm afraid your main body might have encountered some trouble." - Bao Zhi concluded.
"What could it be? Can we do anything?"
Bao Zhi stopped in his steps to ponder. This was a troubling problem indeed, as he was also trapped inside the blessed land.
"I can see two possibilities why this could be. He is either unconscious thus unable to respond to you or open the door of his blessed land." - He paused for a moment.
"Or he is suppressed and his aperture is sealed away. Both of these are a cause for concern." - He knotted his brows.
Xu Lian's will felt helpless. What could they do in a situation like this? He has never considered losing contact with his main body from his own aperture.
"Come, follow me! Leave the plantation for now." - Bao Zhi instructed as he headed toward the center of the blessed land.
* * * * *