Qiu clan! Second supreme elder! Rank seven immortal gu house!
Seeing their leader kneeling, the rest of the hunting group followed Tang Si Yuan's example and kowtowed.
They cast anxious glances at him.
"Brother! Now that Qiu clan is here, there is still a chance to bring this thief Xin Cheng to justice. This is our chance!"
"Boss! Why aren't running? We have the advantage of numbers. They can't chase after all of us."
"Boss, give me the signal and I'll distract them while you strike their leader."
Tang Si Yuan's mind was ringing with voice transmissions form the three of his team.
He breathed out in frustration.
None of them had grasped the seriousness of this situation!
"Wanting to run away from a rank seven gu house? Fat chance!" He cursed in his mind, discarding the option outright.
"Fighting them is even more suicidal. Are you taking me for a rank eight overlord? We would all die without an intact corpse."
"Now all we can do is submit." He released a breath of turbid air.
Tang Si Yuan felt helpless in this situation.
It would take all but a word from Qiu clan to label them as a group of the demonic path.
Stripping away their lone immortal identities with a righteous justification would simply put a huge target on their backs.
At best, they would become ostracized, forced into hiding and unable to openly conduct themselves.
Forget about hunting in the soul beast tide. Instead they would become the hunted.
At worst, they would be put to death now on the spot!
"How did it come to this?" Tang Si Yuan lamented. "How did Qiu clan arrive so quickly? Why did they bring their immortal gu house as well?"
"But most Importantly, who is this Xin Cheng to pull the strings of Qiu clan? He clearly has a good relationship with them... Why haven't I heard of him?"
The thoughts raced in his mind, trying to understand what had happened, trying to ascertain if maybe he could bribe Qiu clan to let them go.
What he didn't know was, that Qiu clan didn't arrive as soon as they thought.
The four of them were mislead by Bao Zhi. Warping their sense of time, they didn't realize almost half a day had passed since Bao Zhi left the battlefield killer move.
This was enough time for Bao Zhi to meet up with Qinyang and Hao Meng who received Bao Zhi's message at the beginning of his chase.
Bao Zhi stepped forward, pointing at the group of gu immortals below.
"This is it. The three of them have captured the demonic thief of Tian Qucheng." Bao Zhi openly told Qiu clan's second supreme elder.
"Friend Tang Si Yuan! I knew, I could count on you hold down the thief with your battlefield killer move." Bao Zhi spoke in a friendly tone. "As you have asked me, I have brought Qiu clan to be the witness of justice."
"What?" Tang Si Yuan blinked thrice in his shock.
"He is using Qiu clan to suppress and label us. As expected. But not all of us?" He gulped as he realized Bao Zhi's ploy was not as simple as he thought. It was even more sinister than he imagined!
Tang Si Yuan found himself between a rock and hard place, and the only way out was a trap in itself.
But he had no choice if he wanted to live!
"Boss, what is he talking about?"
"Brother, he is trying to frame me! Do something!"
Tang Si Yuan contemplated, sweat dripping on his temples.
He sent his own voice transmission. "The situation is dire. We need to break out. Go! You will be the distraction. Don't worry, I'll cover you from behind."
"Understood, boss."
The rank six gu immortal sprung forth with a murderous aura, attempting to flee the scene.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Tang Si Yuan launched a series of sneak attacks.
He has struck down his own subordinate!
The rank six gu immortal's soul was shaken by the first strike, destroying his defenses. The second strike destroyed most of his soul, only leaving a weak sliver. The third strike shredded his soul.
It all happened in the blink of an eye.
Thud.
The immortal fell on the ground lifelessly.
His wide open eyes radiated shock and confusion.
"The demonic gu immortal has been brought to justice." Tang Si Yuan cupped his fist. "Hereby, Tang Si Yuan thanks Qiu clan and benefactor Xin Cheng for this opportunity."
"Brother! You killed him! How could you-" Tang Si Yao wailed.
"Shut up! This is our only chance. If I have to cut off an arm to survive, I'm willing to do it!" Tang Si Yuan transmitted in anger.
Tang Si Yuan was filled with guilt and helplessness.
Establishing this hunter group was his greatest achievement, wanting to develop it into sect eventually.
He would never have guessed, he would be the one to strike down his trusted recruit.
The other rank six froze on the spot, not daring to voice any complaint.
Qiu clan's second supreme elder glanced at Bao Zhi, then proclaimed.
"Justice is served." Qiu clan's second supreme elder said aloud. "Do not linger in my clan's territory." He warned the rest.
"With this settled, the debt is repaid, friend. The matters of the ancient Fei clan are no more." He transmitted to Bao Zhi as he left in a colorful streak of light.
Previously, Bao Zhi was pleasantly surprised to have found a living descendant of the ancient Fei clan in Qiu clan who honored their debt to Bao clan.
Even though the second supreme elder was unable to provide a sufficient time path method that Bao Zhi was looking for, this was also a favorable outcome.
Bao Zhi landed on the ground and helped Tang Si Yuan to his feet.
Tang Si Yuan looked up at Bao Zhi with disdain flashing in his eyes.
But it was immediately extinguished by the sight behind Bao Zhi.
Immortal Gu House — Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda!
"Huh!?" The immortal gu house didn't leave with Qiu clan's second supreme elder, but followed Bao Zhi!
"Friends, the soul beast tide is still in full force and I see you are one man short. How about we join forces to make some gains?"
"Such guts!"
"So shameless!!!"
The three immortals were dumbstruck and indignant.
Tang Si Yuan had goosebumps on the back of his neck.
How could a person like this exist?
He couldn't figure out Bao Zhi's thinking. What was he playing at?
This smiling man simply terrified him!
"Actually, forget it. It is still too soon for this." Bao Zhi continued. "Here is a task for you instead."
He instructed them to go looking for a time path method to slow down an aperture's time flow.
"Here is a clue for a time path inheritance." Bao Zhi paused for emphasis, then recited.
"The hours one spends fishing are not counted against his lifespan."
"The calm found in tranquility flows onward into perpetuity."
This was a clue Bao Zhi received from Qiu clan.
"You have one month." He patted Tang Si Yuan's shoulder.
"You will notify my will in Treasure Yellow Heaven." He turned around and flew away with the immortal gu house.
The three soul beast hunters remained still for some moments.
"What just happened..."
"Let's leave quickly." Tang Si Yuan sighed.
He couldn't help but replay the events over and over in his mind.
If he was in Bao Zhi's place, he would not have hesitated to kill all four gu immortals who have wronged him. With a righteous justification, it was the perfect opportunity.
"Are we not even worth killing in his eye?" He shook his head in disagreement.
"I did what I had to. There is no shame in survival." He thought.
Yet, he felt like dying there just moments ago were maybe a preferable outcome? How could that be?
He felt like a piece of him was torn out, likely never to be regained. Like an invisible shackle strangling his neck.
Bao Zhi was clear of the principle he employed.
A living enemy was worth ten dead ones!
Why would that be, wouldn't nipping the problem in the bud be preferable? A dead enemy was one less thing to worry about.
Not if you could own your enemy!
Because the only enemy you cannot manipulate is a dead one.
Tang Si Yuan's group regained their lives, but they lost their freedom. Their identity as lone immortals shackled them and Bao Zhi decisively grabbed these chains.
This was an instance of carrot and the stick.
If he willed, they would become wanted criminals. If he wished, they would be lackeys of a righteous force backed by an immortal gu house.
It was a situation with a clear imbalance. He, who had the option to choose, had the upper hand.
"Brother, what will we do now? Will we have to become demonic gu immortals? Let's leave Western Desert behind." Tang Si Yao broke the silence as they flew in the sky.
"We can't leave. The situation is not that simple. We would still need to return each time. Gu immortals can only take the same heaven and earth qi of the region they ascended in."
"Oh, you're right. Then all we can do is submit?"
"But all is not lost. This Xin Cheng has a much more profound background than we imagined."
Tang Si Yao agreed wholeheartedly. If he knew Bao Zhi had such a force behind him he would have never entertained the thought of extorting him.
"This is also our opportunity. Xin Cheng clearly thinks he can make use of us, or he wouldn't leave us alive."
"You are right, boss. If a clan can produce a rank seven gu house, then they are very rich!"
"If we can ride the coattails of a clan, couldn't we eventually become external elders and join the righteous faction?"
"Indeed, that would be the best outcome. But we are in a dangerous situation still. We have to show something to justify our existence."
"Mhmm."
Tang Si Yuan carried the corpse of his underling, looking for a suitable spot for the blessed to fall.
* * * * *
Inside the Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda.
Bao Zhi sat cross-legged, contemplating.
"The four of them were probably influenced by heaven's will to target me." Bao Zhi surmised.
"But they are still humans in the end, with their own free wills and motivations, heaven's will could only have a limited effect."
He could gleam some superficial clues from this encounter.
"Heaven's will couldn't arose their killing intent. It could only influence their greed to chase after me."
Bao Zhi understood their character in their brief interaction, it was mostly thanks to his human path grandmaster attainment and human qi methods.
"If they came with the intention to kill, I would probably have had to fake my death."
"Oh! Even Qiu clan's second supreme elder was part of this arrangement." Bao Zhi suddenly realized.
"If I hadn't escaped the four soul beast hunters, and met Qiu clan's second supreme elder in advance, would I have been the one put to death on his arrival?"
"Good thing the immortal gu house arrived in time. It helped me greatly to establish my legitimacy in Qiu clan's eyes."
In his view, it was close to impossible to fake the existence of an immortal gu house. Even Bao Zhi's scalp got numb at the thought of trying to replicate the complex aura of the myriad gu an immortal gu house contained.
"So this was a so called human calamity."
The name was very fitting, he had to admit.
Just like passing the hurdle of a calamity of heaven and earth to gain dao marks, safely navigating a human calamity could yield an advantageous result!
Having played his cards right, now he gained three gu immortal pawns.
"Of course, they can't be trusted. But they can still be useful with some considerations."
"Also there is another gain of similar importance."
* * * * *
"This should be it. Let's stop here."
Tang Si Yuan placed the gu immortal corpse on the ground.
Having lost one of their comrades to Bao Zhi's scheme was a huge loss. But at least they could split up his wealth among themselves.
"Every cloud has a silver lining."
"We will not forget your selfless sacrifice!"
"Be ready. The fall of the blessed land is imminent. Don't miss it when the entrance opens or we won't be able to enter again." Tang Si Yuan noted.
An hour passed.
"It should be here any moment now..."
"Brother, are you sure it didn't drop when we were traveling? Shouldn't we check at least?"
"The body was inside my immortal aperture the whole time. How could we lose it?" Tang Si Yuan grumbled.
...
"Just admit it, brother. You let it be absorbed by your own aperture!" Tang Si Yao accused. "Isn't that right? What difference is it to you after backstabbing!"
"You! You!!" Tang Si Yuan ground his teeth.
"What? Couldn't you at least tell the truth if you are unwilling to share? Brother! Or should I be watching my back from now on?" Tang Si Yao yelled.
"If it wasn't for you and your petty greed! There would be still four of us, hunting soul beasts as we always have!"
* * * * *
"Hmm, what would be the best use for this soul path blessed land?" Bao Zhi wondered.