The events unfolded in an unexpected hurry before Bao Zhi's eyes. His composure stood tested at this very moment as he witnessed the Wen clan erasing their binding agreement. The very agreement that ensured the two clans would cooperate and compete throughout the years.
Each clan's immortals under the effects of the oath were forced. When a new immortal arose amidst their ranks they had to submit the new immortal during the yearly competition to the other clan for them to place their part of the agreement on them, perpetuating the cycle.
This seemed like a foolproof system. Bao clan's immortals were shackled by Wen clan's information path agreement and vice versa.
Bao Zhi came from before this system was established. In fact, he was the one to propose and implement it!
His original scheme was of similar design to exploit this agreement after his rebirth. Bao clan's situation was deliberately set up the way it was today.
Bao Zhi has left behind his true inheritance in the form of the Flying Leaf Coiling Vine formation. It contained his previous vital gu, the rank eight Immortal Gu — Root.
The rank eight formation ensured Bao clan's safety throughout the ages, but it also restricted the immortals' growth.
Feeding the rank eight gu and other immortal gu was no small matter for the economy of the grotto heaven, the rest of the resources also had to be split among many. This was Bao Zhi's first arrangement, it ensured that Bao clan would survive and also prevented the emergence of another rank eight gu immortal.
The second arrangement was to restrict Wen can as well via the immortal oath.
He planned to reclaim Bao clan first, then subdue the helpless Wen clan with their combined forces.
But alas, Wen clan was one step quicker. They removed their own shackles, flipping the table on Bao Zhi's age old scheme.
"Hah, good! A worthy display of Wen clan's wisdom path foundation." - Bao Zhi praised internally with a face of mild surprise and admiration.
"Has Wen clan seen through my scheme the moment they agreed to it?" - He thought to himself with suspicion.
"They would have acted sooner if that was the case. Nonetheless, I have to be more careful. I have to assume the worst, my rebirth might also be exposed."
Bao Zhi's centuries of experience made him careful and calculating. Unexpected situations like this were the watershed moments that truly tested one's skills and instincts, separating the seasoned expert from the merely competent.
"The immortals are fighting!" - Qinyang called out in a tense voice.
Her thoughts were a chaotic bunch as her gaze fixated on the outside events with worry.
"This is all because of me. I accidentally killed an immortal and now a blood feud broke out! I can't let them find out that I was the one controlling the gu house..."
"No, I was only trying to help! That useless Hao Jiong should have dodged the gu house in the first place..."
"She tried to kill me with such underhanded methods! She even deserved her fate!" - She argued in her mind.
Qinyang glanced at Jue Shi and Bao Zhi in search of guidance.
Bao Zhi was already analyzing the situation. He dispelled his killer move, Concealed Human Qi, to focus all his attention.
"Let me control the gu house." - He ordered as the wave of his human qi spread free.
"Oh!" - Qinyang stepped back in shock, the human qi crashing past her like a formless wave.
She let Bao Zhi access the gu house's controls without further ado.
"Who is this person? His presence suddenly became so... domineering?" - Qinyang was at a loss to describe what she felt looking at the towering back of the person before her.
Jue Shi looked on curiously, he felt some lingering disdain for Bao Zhi's attempt at refining his gu house, but he didn't voice it.
Images flashed in front of Bao Zhi as he controlled the gu house and assessed its capabilities. Now from a different angle than before, he gained a more complete understanding.
"The first priority is to stabilize our situation." - He thought while multitasking.
"This gu house can suppress those irregular wills, is that correct?" - Knowing the answer already, still he turned to Jue Shi for confirmation.
"True, the case happens to be so, indeed. Moon on the water, these wills are but shallow and incomplete imitations." - Jue Shi replied with a hint of pride.
The gu house sprung to action under Bao Zhi's control. The wills of Old Refinement and Shou Xin froze in front of the gu house before they vanished in a flash.
Bao Zhi checked the gu house's internal space where he discovered the slumbering wills. He saw two more lying there in dormant suspension.
The gu house started to rise higher into the air to gain a better vantage point.
"Wait! We need to take him with us!" - Qinyang motioned to the still Hao Meng on the ground.
He was left behind where the now ruined competition stage stood. He was easily captured by Bao Zhi.
Bao Zhi placed Hao Meng's body next to Xu Lian in the lower floor's refinement formation and suppressed him. He wanted no interference or unexpected surprises from this newly advanced gu immortal.
Finally, the gu house shot into the clouds with great speed, chasing after the immortals of the two clans.
"What is your plan?" - Qinyang eagerly wanted to know.
"It is simple." He began. "Bao clan is getting chased by Wen clan. But once they enter the grotto, the situation will be complicated. That is the moment of opportunity. I will have my chance to obtain the inheritance and stabilize the situation."
"Are you taking us right into a battle now? But you promised to take us to safety!"
"The closer to danger, the further from harm." - Bao Zhi smiled faintly.
Qinyang: "..."
"Worry not, you will stay inside and control the gu house."
Qinyang bit her lip in frustration, she had to fulfill her end of the agreement and help Bao Zhi with his inheritance even is she was unwilling.
Bao Zhi gave a short brief of the situation to her.
At his moment, the gu house caught up to the immortals at last.
Wen clan was crossing from the Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land to the Ancestral Grotto at this moment.
"Keep it steady. Follow the immortals from a distance. Once inside, wait for my signal then approach the huge tree." - Bao Zhi instructed and disappeared on the spot using the gu house's methods.
The Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda cut through the sky with grace and entered the gate connecting to the Ancestral Grotto.
Bao Zhi was standing atop the roof, holding on with one hand.
His senses were immediately engulfed in a symphony of sensations. The air carried a rich, earthy scent, mingled with the sweetness of blooming flowers and the tang of distant rain. The vibrant hues of emerald and jade canopies sprawled and danced in the gentle breeze till the eye could see.
"It's good to be back." - He enjoyed this brief nostalgic moment.
This was the first time he could witness his grotto heaven's lush forests and rolling hills since his death.
Amidst the green expanse, Bao Zhi's gaze settled on one entity, the majestic silhouette of the giant Azure Crown Oak tree, its colossal branches reaching towards the sky like hundred outstretched arms.
This towering desolate plant, often revered as the world tree, stood tall among the clouds with a presence commanding of awe.
Bao Zhi didn't revel in these sensations longer than a moment. He knew he needed to act at this moment or the opportunity would be gone.
With Concealed Human Qi again in effect, he threw himself off the gu house and vanished into the greenery below.
He kept close to the ground, using the rank five gu worms he obtained from Xu Lian. He had enough essence and a complimentary set of gu finally.
Earth Root Travel!
He used the rank five version of his signature move, speeding towards the center of commotion.
The Bao clan immortals were escaping in a hurry.
"Quickly, quickly! Man the formation, protect the grotto!" - Sounded the command in the Bao clan immortal's ears.
Bao Zhi's perception caught up to the immortals overhead, their dense human qi, like burning torches in the night were obvious due to his grandmaster human path attainment.
"Something's not right." - He noticed an anomaly in the fleeing group.
One of the immortal's human qi was noticeably unusual. Focusing on this individual, Bao Zhi discovered a cunning and malicious intent.
What did this mean? A foreboding premonition took hold of his mind.
"I see! This scheme is deeper than I thought..." - Bao Zhi changed his direction immediately, heading towards the Great Root Manor.
His plan was simple, but simple was good. A complex plan was hard to adapt to unforeseen changes.
Bao Zhi did not waste time speculating, and chose the simplest, most direct option.
Bao clan entered the Flying Leaf Coiling Vine formation at this moment.
This was Bao clan's last line of defense and also their trump card. This formation has protected the grotto heaven for generations, facing multiple myriad tribulations. The force of rank seven immortals couldn't hold a candle to the destructive forces of myriad tribulations.
"Wen Jie! Your farce is over. Leave now, or you all will wish we could give you a quick death!" - Bao Yijun's threatening voice resounded.
This was Bao clan's territory, they had the defender's advantage now that they taken position in the Flying Leaf Coiling Vine formation.
Wen Jie did not respond to the provocation, only a sly smile escaped her lips behind her fan.
The Wen clan immortals slowed their pace, only one person kept flying head on.
The figure cloaked in the swirling of power. His eyes, usually calm and composed, now blazed with an intense fervor, reflecting the depths of his resolve.
Rank seven gu immortal, Great Formation Wen Bo took the charge!
His aura surged, like a crashing wave of power cascading outward in all directions. His hair billowed and danced around him like tendrils of silk in the wind, it was clear to all, he was about to unleash a powerful killer move.
Once more, he glanced at their leader, Wen Jie. Her soundless acknowledgement was all he needed to fulfill his purpose now.
His body seemed to shimmer and waver, and then, in a blinding flash of brilliance, it happened.
Immortal Killer Move — Formation Sand!
Wen Bo's physical form dissolved into a swirling vortex of silver sand! Each grain shimmered with light, like the brightest stars in the sky.
The torrential surge of silver, scattered like a thin and harmless mist.
Bao Clan was on edge, seeing this killer move for the fist time. But their faith in the power of their formation was unshaken.
They activated the formation, mobilizing its core and myriad supplementary gu worms.
The whole world seemed to come alive as if a giant was shaking it.
Immortal Formation — Flying Leaf Coiling Vine!
Gigantic roots sprouted from underground and leaves became a sea of flying razor blades ready to mince their targets.
The silver mist of formation sand moved at the same time, rushing towards a certain spot of the formation.
"Oh no! They found one of the core immortal gu! Quickly shift the cores!"
The flying leaves rushed to block the silver mist, but the latter seemed unstoppable, slipping through easily.
This was no coincidence, of course. Wen clan had studied this remarkable formation for decades. They knew they couldn't defeat it head on, even a rank eight gu immortal would struggle to hold their own.
No, they choose the next best countermeasure.
Prevoiusly, one of the core immortal gu, rank six Leaf Edge immortal gu has been refined by Wen clan. This gu was tampered with, creating a loophole that only Wen Bo's killer move could exploit!
At this moment, Wen Bo used his remaining lifespan, his body, his gu worms and even his dao marks. Everything he had was sacrificed, fueling this one killer move.
Bao clan's defense had to be dealt with!
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