Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land, Competition grounds
On the highest seats on the side of Bao clan, above the clamor and fervor of the unfolding events, the immortals sat in quiet contemplation. They appeared serene, their grace and high disposition emanating from their very beings.
As they deliberated, the weight of their preparations and stratagems bore fruit, evident in the steady advancement of their plans.
"Our preparations," spoke one immortal, his voice as steady as a mountain stream, "have already yielded fruitful dividends."
A nod of agreement came from another immortal, his countenance bearing the mark of assured confidence.
"Indeed," he said, "our gu masters possess the advantage both in numbers and skill. The forces at our disposal are formidable."
"While our skilled gu masters uphold the line," another immortal interjected, the tone measured and slow, "the lesser ranks can gradually erode the enemy's defenses, steadily chipping away at their numbers while ensuring the safe return of our own."
With each word spoken, the plan to assert dominance in this year's event against the Wen clan revealed its seamless progress. The immortals exuded an aura of confidence, for they knew that victory was soon within their grasp.
Yet, amidst this air of assured triumph, a flicker of concern cast a shadow over the lower ranked immortals. One among them glanced below at the boisterous gu masters below, their raucous voices piercing the stillness of the scene.
"There is but one problem," he murmured, barely audible above the tumultuous noise. His gaze met the eyes of his fellow immortals, silently conveying his apprehension.
The identity of the inheritance cultivated by Zhao Min and his group became clear as more and more gu masters recognized it, spreading through the crowd like a swift gust of wind. It was none other than the Three Demon's Inheritance, its infamous legacy now unveiled before all.
The discontent among the spectating gu masters was palpable, like a gathering storm ready to unleash its fury. The knowledge of this forbidden inheritance sparked a mix of envy, resentment, and perhaps even fear among those present.
Yet, it was undeniable, Bao clan's side pressed forward thanks to the efforts of Zhao Min's group.
The atmosphere hung heavy with a multitude of emotions.
In the midst of the immortals' deliberation, one among them dispelled the concerns of a lower-ranked comrade with a passing comment, uttered in a tone laden with cryptic meaning.
"The surfacing of this inheritance is no mere coincidence. After the event has transpired, these four shall continue to serve our interests."
The response illuminated the understanding of the concerned gu immortal, who now saw a glimmer of clarity amidst the enigmatic words.
"Ah, so we shall keep them as a whetstone for the righteous path gu masters instead of disposing them?" - He queried, his voice laced with comprehension.
"Precisely." - Came the assured reply.
And with that, the gu immortals refocused their attention upon the stage before them, where the rank three gu masters were poised to join the unfolding battle.
Meanwhile, at the edge of the Wen clan's side, Qinyang steeled her resolve, preparing herself for the imminent entry into the fray.
With determined resolve, she whispered her plan to herself.
"Enter, save Wen Tu, and exit. As simple as that."
As the restrictions lifted and the group of new rank three gu masters entered the stage from both sides, Qinyang sprang into action. Activating her information path methods, she swiftly scanned the battlefield, meticulously noting each individual. Her task was clear, and she had located Wen Tu amidst the chaos in no time.
The pressure on Zhao Min's group intensified sharply, for their rank two cultivation base was no match for the presence of the formidable rank three gu masters. Yet, through their unwavering cooperation and help of their own reinforcement, they managed to hold their ground, skillfully staving off their opponents as they began to withdraw.
In the midst of the escalating battle, Qinyang swiftly arrived at Wen Tu's side, offering her aid in his desperate situation. The dim life marking flare above Wen Tu's head signified his precarious state—he could not leave the battle until he had scored some hits, an arduous task indeed.
"Sister, why are you too here?"
"Listen!" - Qinyang called out, her voice cutting through the din of the surrounding combat.
"I will create an opportunity for you. Release your icicles when the time is right. Once your life marking flare has enough score, I will cover your escape." - Her words were spoken with a blend of urgency and determination, a plan formed in the crucible of adversity.
Wen Tu nodded in weary acknowledgment, his exhaustion evident upon his visage. The weight of the battle bore down upon them, but together, they stood firm, ready to seize the fleeting chance.
Qinyang activated her self-created killer move. Her preprogrammed instructions sprang to life, and activated the Icicle gu.
Like ethereal dancers, numerous icicles materialized above her head, each bearing identical proportions. With a graceful and orderly choreography, they circled and orbited around her, steadily amassing in number.
Qinyang attentively monitored the bright silver primeval essence within her aperture.
It declined at a steady pace, though not as swiftly as when she had practiced against Wen Tu. She reassured herself, recognizing that this reserve of essence would endure just long enough to serve her purpose.
As her killer move reached its initial culmination, the production of icicles ceased temporarily, leaving more than three dozen of these crystalline projectiles poised and suspended above her.
They awaited her command, shimmering with a latent potency that yearned for release, eager to be hurled towards their intended targets with unyielding force.
In the blink of an eye, Qinyang's mental command resonated with her operating killer move, creating a swift and decisive response.
Icicles, akin to frigid meteors trailing through the air, shot forth from their suspended positions. With a rhythmic crashing of ice crystals, they found their intended targets with unyielding precision and ruthless accuracy.
The very air hummed with the symphony of their impact.
Clink! Clink! Clink! Clink!
"Now!" - Qinyang's urging called to seize the opportunity and strike at the suppressed enemy.
Firing his own icicles, however, Wen Tu's weariness betrayed him, leading to an errant aim. A single icicle struck its mark, but the others faltered, missing their intended destinations.
Qinyang swiftly recognized the extent of Wen Tu's fatigue, realizing that his ability to land accurate hits had been compromised.
"We will divert our focus to the tree giant!" - Qinyang declared with urgency, her mind swiftly recalibrating their strategy.
"I will pin it down. Wait for the opportune moment."
Determined, she directed her killer move, manually designating the tree giant as the primary target. A flurry of ice shards erupted forth, hurtling towards their newfound objective.
Ye Jianhong, the tree giant, had been inching back, step by cautious step, when an unforeseen torrent of ice suddenly filled his field of vision.
Caught off guard by the sudden onslaught, he found himself ill-prepared to fend off this concentrated attack. Though he had previously deflected the icicles that had arrived one by one from Wen clan's side, this new deluge overwhelmed him.
Alarm surged within his mind as he hastily raised his forearms in a desperate attempt at defense.
But alas, his efforts proved futile. The onslaught of icy projectiles pierced into his tree-flesh, embedding themselves into his very being like a pincushion.
The sting of the cold pain numbed his senses, rendering him vulnerable and disoriented.
With a stumble, he succumbed to the onslaught, falling upon his back. The countless icy needles had rendered his limbs immobile, offering no cover against the relentless assault that unfolded.
"Now, swiftly!" - Qinyang signaled, her voice tinged with a blend of urgency and determination.
The opportune moment had arrived, and Wen Tu seized it resolutely.
"Help me!" - Ye Jianhong's anguished cry pierced the air, borne of desperation and the realization of his own perilous predicament.
In a display of swift reflexes, Zhao Min summoned forth roots to shield Ye Jianhong from harm.
Yet, Qinyang's flying icicles, with a responsiveness akin to a lightning strike, swiftly shifted their target.
The roots, barely beginning to emerge from the ground, were mercilessly shredded before they could provide adequate protection.
"What level of multitasking is this?"
"Incredible!"
A collective gasp escaped the lips of those who bore witness to Qinyang's remarkable feat of preemptively dismantling any defense that the gu masters of the Bao clan sought to offer Ye Jianhong.
With the opportune moment unfolding, Wen Tu unleashed his icicle upon the immobilized and defenseless Ye Jianhong. However, Jin Ju, who had been lurking upon the battlefield using his phantom path methods, materialized before Ye Jianhong with a resolute purpose—to intercept the imminent attack.
"No you don't!" - Qinyang's eyes twitched with determination, her method swiftly acquiring and engaging its new target—Jin Ju himself. The shards of ice already propelled by the time Qinyang noticed his intervention.
Jin Ju, caught between the looming threat and the unyielding assault, found himself with little recourse. He could not defend against both attacks and was forced to retreat, dissolving back into his intangible phantom state.
Meanwhile, Wen Tu's sharp projectile hurtled towards Ye Jianhong's skull with remarkable speed.
Time seemed to stand still for the stricken tree giant, Ye Jianhong's heart pounding in his chest with fervent intensity, yet like the drums of doom, the beats rang in his ears ominously.
In a final, desperate attempt to avert his impending demise, Ye Jianhong shifted his massive body, striving to evade the fatal blow.
Alas, his efforts fell short, for his hulking frame proved too unwieldy to fully elude the icy projectile. The projectile found its mark, piercing his neck with chilling precision.
In that harrowing instant, uncertainty flickered within Ye Jianhong's life marking flare. The outcome hung in the balance, teetering on the precipice of life and death.
And then, with a resolute certainty, it became undeniable—Ye Jianhong had been dealt a fatal blow.
The flowing green blood of the fallen tree giant resembled an open tap, a lamentable cascade that marked the final moments of Ye Jianhong's existence.
His team members stood helpless, unable to rescue their fallen comrade from the clutches of impending demise.
Though he attempted to utter some final words, only gurgling sounds escaped his lips, a pitiful testament to his waning vitality.
With a feeble breath, he surrendered to the embrace of death, with deathly still and open eyes.
. . .
Qinyang's gaze darted towards Wen Tu's life marking flare, observing its sudden intensification. A glimmer of hope sparked within her as she recognized the signs of success.
"He can leave the battlefield now!" - Qinyang assured herself, positioning herself as a shield between Wen Tu and the encroaching Bao clan gu masters.
Focusing her attention on the adversaries before her, she soon noticed an oddity amidst the chaos.
The fallen tree giant, whose life force had been extinguished, remained sprawled upon the ground. Normally, within the confines of this arena, deceased bodies would swiftly transform into bloody water, dissolving into oblivion. Yet, the tree giant persisted, unmistakably lifeless but strangely present.
Curiosity gripped Qinyang's thoughts as she pondered this anomaly.
"Strange." - She muttered to herself, her mind alight with intrigue. Nevertheless, she had no time to ponder, and she resumed her attacks, suppressing the advancing foes, while ensuring her brother Wen Tu made his escape from the stage.
In the midst of this chaotic moment, a gu worm emerged from within Ye Jianhong's lifeless form, casting a radiant glow upon its surroundings.
The life marking flare above his head flickered once more, as if rekindled by a mysterious force.
A naked body emerged from the carcass of the fallen tree giant, a bewildering mixture of confusion and elation danced upon his countenance.
The assembled onlookers, caught in the grip of astonishment, fell into a collective gasp, their voices momentarily stilled by the enigma that unfolded before their eyes.
"How could one cheat death so brazenly?"
"What kind of tricks are these?"
Before the silence could settle too deeply, a voice broke through the haze of bewilderment.
"A revival method!" - The voice exclaimed, as if attempting to make sense of the inexplicable.
Yet, Ye Jianhong, his emotions surging within him, cried out in a mixture of shock and frustration, his voice carrying the weight of disbelief.
"Why?" - Ye Jianhong's voice cried out with profound grief in it.
A cascade of long, flowing hair cascaded down his shoulders, its strands shimmering with a radiant luster. His figure, now adorned with plump breasts and curvaceous hips, exuded a graceful femininity that belied his previous identity.
With wide eyes and a mix of astonishment and bemusement, Ye Jianhong surveyed the altered physique.
"Why have I been transformed into a woman?"
In a fleeting moment, the pieces began to fall into place as one astute onlooker recognized the enigmatic gu that had triggered Ye Jianhong's resurrection.
"Yin yang rotation gu!" - An observer proclaimed, their voice tinged with both incredulity and understanding.
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