[4 Days Later]
Fang Shung sat cross-legged in a serene room, her body illuminated by soft morning light filtering through wide windows draped with veils. The gentle breeze stirred them, casting faint shadows that danced across her face. She had spent the entire night in cultivation, her focus unbroken. As dawn approached, she felt a surge of energy course through her—she'd finally reached Rank 3 upper stage. A faint smile flickered across her lips. A month ago, such progress had been only a distant goal, but now here she was.
Her eyes shifted downward, feeling the warm hum of power radiating from her dantian just beneath her ribcage. Unlike her Gu World aperture, marked by strange golden inscriptions, her dantian pulsed with Qi, seemingly alive with a power all its own. It was an unusual mix, balancing between two worlds' methods, yet it strengthened her beyond ordinary cultivators. Fang Shung knew this, and it thrilled her.
A quiet knock at the door broke her reverie, followed by the slow creak of wood as Gu Yue Bo entered, bowing low as he approached. His face was drawn, worry etched across his features.
"Master," he began, his tone respectful yet tinged with unease. "There have been... disturbances among the other clans. The unnatural passage of time here, the slowing—it's not gone unnoticed. Several elders have raised concerns. I seek your permission to return to address these matters."
Fang Shung studied him for a moment, contemplating. She could easily refuse, but she knew Bo's presence in the clan might quell any unrest.
"Go then," she said, her voice measured. "But keep your loyalty unwavering, Bo. The Bai Clan still serves my purpose."
He bowed low, his forehead nearly brushing the floor. "Of course, Master. The Bai Clan lives and breathes for you." Straightening, he backed out of the room, the door closing with a soft thud.
Silence settled once more. Fang Shung closed her eyes, resuming her cultivation. But just as she steadied her breath, a voice broke the stillness.
"Ah, so you're hiding in here, Fang Shung!" A playful, almost mocking tone echoed through the room as a young man swung himself in through the window, landing with barely a sound. His silver hair shimmered in the soft light, and his piercing blue eyes scanned her with amusement.
Fang Shung's eyes narrowed. "Bai Ning Bing," she said, her voice cool but edged with curiosity. "I don't recall inviting you in."
He smirked, his expression a blend of disdain and amusement as he leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "Invite? When have I ever needed permission, Fang Shung? I go where I please." His gaze swept the room with a faint sneer. "I just came to see what's become of the so-called new power of the Bai Clan. It's almost pathetic."
Her lips curved in a faint smile. "The Bai Clan has simply learned where true power lies," she replied, voice smooth. "Not everyone has to fight against fate, Ning Bing."
His blue eyes flashed, the playful glint gone. "Don't mistake me for one of your tamed little pets," he said coldly. "I don't serve anyone. I only recognize power when it's worth something." His voice dropped to a deadly whisper. "And you're hardly there yet."
She leaned forward slightly, her gaze unflinching. "Careful, Ning Bing. Challenge me, and you may find out just how close I am."
Bai Ning Bing laughed, the sound sharp and bitter. "Challenge you? Don't flatter yourself." He pushed off the wall, stepping closer, his voice a low hiss. "I came to remind you that ambition without strength is nothing. Rise too high, and you'll only fall harder." He paused, his tone dripping with menace. "The Bai Clan might have bent the knee to you, but don't think for a second that I ever will."
Fang Shung met his gaze without wavering. "Is that a promise?"
Bai Ning Bing's eyes gleamed with cold intent. "It's a warning." He turned away, heading toward the window without another word. Just before slipping out, he shot her a final, icy glance. "Remember, Fang Shung, demons aren't meant to be ruled."
And with that, he was gone, leaving the room colder, the air thick with the weight of his threat.
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A faint chill had crept into the night air, the dark skies stretching over Qingmao Mountain as if swallowing every last star. The Bai Clan's central hall lay empty, save for a few dimly lit candles casting flickering shadows against the walls. Quiet, save for the faint rustling of robes and the soft shuffle of footsteps as figures emerged from the darkness one by one.
At the head of the hall, Fang Shung stood, backlit by a single, low-burning lamp. She wore an elaborate black cloak that seemed to absorb the light, as her gaze swept across the gathering figures. Gu Yue Bo was the first to arrive, the Bai Clan Leader trailing not far behind, with several elders following silently, each bearing a stiff, dazed look, their eyes downcast.
"Come closer," she commanded softly, her voice barely above a whisper yet echoing in the silence. They stepped forward obediently, moving like puppets pulled by invisible strings, their faces blank yet faintly anxious.
Fang Shung took her time studying each of them. Such a pitiful assembly, she mused, suppressing a smirk. Bai Clan Leader was her earliest acquisition, but the others were new—freshly bound by her Manipulation Gu, still unsteady in their devotion. She would fix that soon enough.
She paused, letting the silence deepen, feeling the tension grow as they waited under her cold gaze. A breeze blew through the hall, flickering the candle flames and casting the room in uneasy shadows.
"Tonight," she began, her voice soft yet cutting through the quiet, "we are here to discuss the future of the Bai Clan… or, should I say, my future."
A shiver ran through the crowd, but no one dared to speak. The Bai Clan Leader's eyes briefly flickered with awareness, a spark of his old self fighting through the fog, but he quickly looked down, defeated.
Fang Shung took a few steps toward him, her smile growing sharper. "Leader Bai," she addressed him pointedly. "You understand, don't you? You've been leading this clan, nurturing it, growing it for generations… only for it to be inherited by a worthy successor." She raised an eyebrow. "Are you not pleased that I've chosen to take up the mantle?"
Leader Bai nodded stiffly, his face twitching with a mixture of emotions. "Yes, Lady Fang," he murmured. "The clan… is yours to lead."
A soft chuckle escaped her. Such loyalty, she thought mockingly. "Tell me, Leader Bai, what is the greatest treasure of your clan? What is it that you and your ancestors have protected for all these years?"
The question hung in the air. His eyes darted to the other elders, but they remained silent, hollow-eyed. Slowly, he answered, "The… Bai Clan's treasure vault, Lady Fang."
"Good," she purred, circling him like a predator sizing up its prey. "And tell me… do you know why I'm interested in it?"
Leader Bai swallowed. He didn't. But his silence was answer enough. Fang Shung's fingers traced along the edge of her cloak, her gaze distant.
"Bai Ning Bing," she murmured suddenly, letting the name echo through the hall. A slight tensing of her captives told her that name meant something here. "The Bai Clan's pride. It's a so-called demon. And you've all given him free rein for far too long."
The elders exchanged uneasy glances, but they stayed silent. A dark smirk crept across her face. Yes, she thought. They still fear him… as they should.
She continued, her voice taking on a sharper edge. "Bai Ning Bing is dangerous. Uncontrolled, unbound, and ungrateful. I intend to change that." She let her gaze linger on the Bai Clan Leader, who stiffened under her stare. "Tell me, Leader Bai… I understand you've been interested in this young demon as well?"
Bai Clan Leader's lips twitched, his expression momentarily betraying a glimmer of desire. "The Northern Dark Ice Soul Physique, Lady Fang," he replied, voice barely hiding his eagerness. "Such a physique… it could change the power balance between our clans entirely."
Fang Shung regarded him with cool amusement. "Indeed. Bai Ning Bing's physique could indeed bring power beyond your dreams, Leader Gu. But you must understand—it belongs to me now, as does everything here." She let her smile sharpen. "Of course, that doesn't mean I can't lend him to you… when the time is right."
Bai Clan Leader bowed his head, his eyes betraying a mix of frustration and reluctant acceptance. "Of course, Lady Fang. I am at your service."
Fang Shung paced slowly, letting her gaze roam over the silent, attentive elders, before stopping at a window, peering out into the dark night. "He'll fall," she murmured, half to herself. "But not yet. For now, I need him close. And to ensure that, I'll need the full support of this clan's most loyal… servants."
The word lingered in the air and something about the way she said it sent a chill through the room. She watched as one of the newer elders, a man with deep-set eyes and graying hair, shifted uncomfortably, as though realizing just what kind of loyalty she expected.
"What are you afraid of, Elder Feng?" she asked suddenly, her voice soft but searing.
Elder Feng looked up, startled, his gaze flickering with hesitation. "Nothing, Lady Fang," he replied, his voice barely a whisper.
She tilted her head, studying him. "Nothing? I think not. Fear can be useful, Elder Feng, if directed properly." She let the words settle before adding, "Perhaps you fear Bai Ning Bing, or perhaps you fear what might happen if the clan loses control. Or…" Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Perhaps you fear me."
The silence that followed was thick with unspoken truths. Elder Feng's face was pale, and the others looked on, barely breathing. Fang Shung smiled to herself, pleased by the effect.
"Do not disappoint me, Elders," she said softly, the finality in her voice unmistakable. "Each of you has a role to play. When the time comes, you will be tested—and failure is not an option."
Her eyes gleamed as she turned away from them, her voice fading to a low murmur. "Now, return to your stations. Act normal. Prepare yourselves. When the time is right, we will make our move."
One by one, the elders bowed and filed out, their steps echoing through the hall. Only Gu Yue Bo remained, watching her with an almost sorrowful expression.
"Do you have something to say, Gu Yue Bo?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of amusement.
For a moment, he hesitated. "I wonder, Lady Fang," he began slowly, "if this is the path you truly wish to take… or if there's something you fear as well."
Fang Shung regarded him with an icy smile. "Fear?" She let out a low, mocking laugh. "Perhaps once, but not anymore."
She turned away, her gaze fixed on the darkness beyond the window. "No, Gu Yue Bo. There's nothing left in this world that I fear."
#######
Under the midnight sky, lit by faint starlight, the Bai and Gu Yue clans gathered in the shadowed clearing deep within Qingmao Mountain. The air was thick with tension, each figure a hushed silhouette among the trees. At the center stood Fang Shung, her presence calm yet unyielding, like a predator waiting to strike. Her black, silky hair cascaded down her back, framing her porcelain face with an ethereal glow. Her abyssal eyes, deeper than the darkest night, gleamed with cold calculation as she observed the gathering. She exuded an aura of power and mystery that made the night air seem heavier, more suffocating.
Around her, the Bai Clan Leader, Gu Yue Bo, Elder Gu Yue Mo Chen, and Chi Liang stood silently, their faces grim. The elders had been summoned here under her command, each one bearing the weight of expectation. Fang Shung's crimson gaze flitted over them, studying their expressions carefully. She knew their personalities—she knew their powers, their weaknesses, and their strengths, and tonight, she intended to use every one of them.
The first to speak was Gu Yue Bo, the seasoned leader of the Gu Yue Clan, his face lined with experience and fatigue. His gaze was steady, but there was a shadow of worry in his eyes. Though he knew he was bound to her will, his thoughts lingered on the nature of this alliance with the Bai Clan.
"What is the aim of this expedition, Lady Fang?" Clan Leader Bai asked, a slight edge in his tone as he tried to gauge her intentions.
Fang Shung offered a cold smile, her abyssal eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "Clan Leader Bai, you know well enough. Your interests align with mine, don't they?" She let her gaze linger on him, a silent reminder of his hidden ambitions regarding Bai Ning Bing's Northern Dark Ice Soul Physique.
"Of course, Lady Fang," he replied, bowing his head slightly. The faintest glimmer of satisfaction flickered in her eyes as she saw his compliance.
Elder Gu Yue Mo Chen stood beside him, his face emotionless yet focused, eyes glinting in the darkness. Known for his sharp intellect and ruthless efficiency, Mo Chen was a meticulous planner, an expert in the use of the famed Steel Wall Gu, a defensive Gu that could turn his body into an unbreakable fortress in times of danger. With his Earth Strength Gu, he wielded terrifying power, his punches capable of cracking boulders and shattering walls.
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The Bai Clan elders gathered alongside Elder Mo Chen from the Gu Yue clan, each of them bound by an unseen power—the will of Fang Shung. Among them stood Clan Leader Gu Yue Bo and the Bai Clan Leader, both rank 4 Gu Masters, their expressions vacant yet resolute as they awaited her command. Fang Shung's plan was clear: to bring Bai Ning Bing under her influence, and his strength was a crucial part of her designs.
In the dim light, shadows moved stealthily as several elders flanked Fang Shung and her entourage, concealing themselves with practiced precision as they neared Bai Ning Bing's location. Ahead lay the imposing estate, home to various elders. Bai Ning Bing stood on the rooftop, drinking from a flask, his cold gaze drifting over the approaching group with a mixture of disdain and defiance.
Fang Shung's eyes narrowed, a glint of determination evident as she focused on him. Gathering her previous essence, she activated her Grasshopper Jump Gu, and golden inscriptions flared to life along her legs. In one swift motion, she soared upward, landing gracefully on the rooftop to confront him.
Lowering his flask, Bai Ning Bing's expression hardened as he met her gaze. He understood Fang Shung's purpose, yet his stance remained defiant. For Bai Ning Bing, life had lost its meaning, yet he would not yield without a fight, demon or not. His cold, piercing eyes hinted at a readiness for a struggle he knew was inevitable.
In response, Fang Shung activated her protective array of Gu, auras of jade, flame, and water swirling around her like a shifting tapestry, shielding her from harm. Bai Ning Bing didn't hesitate—he formed an ice blade in his hand and, with a flick of his wrist, sent a storm of icicles whistling through the air, each shard sharp and deadly.
Fang Shung anticipated the strike, transforming her arm into a gleaming metal sword reinforced by layered barriers. With precision and speed beyond human limits, she shattered each icicle in her path, shards of ice scattering around her.
With a cold grin, Bai Ning Bing spun in place, releasing a powerful snow-filled tornado laced with lethal icicles that rushed toward Fang Shung. The air turned frigid, casting a chilling silence over the battlefield. But just as the freezing storm neared, three elders, obeying Fang Shung's unseen command, leaped forward from the shadows. Each elder summoned a different moon blade: one golden, one silver, and one pale blue, their combined force cleaving through the tornado and dispersing it in an explosion of ice crystals.
Despite his injuries, Bai Ning Bing stood his ground, though a dark bruise began to form on his arm. Gritting his teeth, he activated his Frost Demon Gu, conjuring an icy shield around him. Frost coated his right arm, encasing it in jagged ice armor as he began regenerating his injuries.
With grim determination, he summoned his Rank 3 Gu—Blue Bird Ice Coffin Gu. A delicate yet fierce ice bird formed in his palm before he sent it flying toward the elders. The ice bird detonated upon impact, sending shards spraying outward, and while the elders raised their defenses, a few staggered back, small cuts marking their skin.
Elder Mo Chen stepped forward, fists hardened by Earth Strength Gu and reinforced with Steel Wall Gu, delivering a flurry of punches that cracked bones and forced Bai Ning Bing back. Though Bai Ning Bing coughed from the impact, his gaze remained unyielding, a glint of defiance still in his eyes.
With a snarl, he swung his ice blade in a defensive arc, encircling himself in a wall of frigid air. But Mo Chen, with unwavering obedience, delivered a final slash with his golden moon blade, severing Bai Ning Bing's leg cleanly, sending it tumbling to the ground below.
The battle moved to ground level, tiles and splintered beams strewn across the battlefield. Fang Shung, observing from a nearby rooftop, watched impassively as Bai Ning Bing's resilience forced even her enslaved rank 3 Gu Masters into brief moments of retreat.
The area had transformed into a desolate scene of frost and destruction, patches of scorched earth and torn ground scattered among frozen shards. Bai Ning Bing, his strength waning, called upon his final Gu, summoning the Frost Dragon Shard Gu. A dragon-shaped shard of ice took form, shimmering with lethal energy as it launched itself toward the elders in a last desperate strike.
The elders reacted instantly, unleashing a barrage of moon blades, fireballs, and metal shards in response. The Frost Dragon shattered mid-flight, its icy remnants scattering in a glimmering cloud. Bai Ning Bing finally collapsed to his knees, his battered form showing the toll of his defiance. His eyes lifted one last time to Fang Shung, who remained motionless, her expression unreadable.
As her enslaved elders closed in around him, Bai Ning Bing's defiance flickered, a final spark refusing to die as he lay upon the icy ground—a spirit unbroken, even in defeat.
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The battle's echoes faded into an icy silence. Bai Ning Bing lay on the frozen ground, his body battered, blood pooling around him. He breathed heavily, the cold air biting into his wounds, but his eyes held the same stubborn fire, even as pain pulsed through every fiber of his being.
From her vantage point on the rooftop, Fang Shung descended gracefully, landing with a soft thud onto the broken ground before him. Her eyes gleamed with cold satisfaction as she regarded him—this notorious demon, whose defiance seemed unbreakable. Around them, the enslaved elders stood silently, forming a ring, their expressions blank under her control.
"Bai Ning Bing," Fang Shung's voice was smooth and soft, almost mocking, "such resilience. I could almost admire it, if it weren't so... Futile."
Bai Ning Bing's lips twisted into a smirk, his gaze as cold as the ice beneath him. "You call this winning?" he rasped, his voice strained but unwavering. "A coward's victory, hiding behind puppets." He spat, blood staining the snow beside him. "If you wanted a real fight, you wouldn't need them."
Fang Shung chuckled, unperturbed by his taunts. "I have no interest in your childish notions of honor. I have plans that go far beyond you, Bai Ning Bing. I simply need your strength, your skill—whether you like it or not."
As she spoke, Fang Shung raised her hand, and a soft, ethereal light began to pulse around her fingers. The Rank 5 Manipulation Gu activated, wrapping Bai Ning Bing in an invisible pressure that pressed into his mind, seeking to bend his will.
Bai Ning Bing felt the subtle pull of the Manipulation Gu, an invasive pressure that probed into his thoughts, weaving through the fractured remnants of his mind. His vision blurred as memories flickered before him—his defiance, his pride, the thrill of facing death on his terms. Yet, even as the Gu's influence coiled around his psyche, his spirit remained unyielding.
"She wants control," Bai Ning Bing thought bitterly, feeling the Gu's effects press deeper. "But I am Bai Ning Bing, the demon who defies fate. No one—not even her—will make me kneel."
With an effort, he resisted, his mind pushing back against the Manipulation Gu's influence. Fang Shung narrowed her eyes, sensing his fierce resistance.
"Still fighting, are you?" she murmured, a hint of frustration in her voice. "Very well. Let's see if even you can withstand this."
Fang Shung's expression hardened as she extended her hand again. This time, a dark, ominous aura swirled around her, and a chilling presence filled the air. She activated her Rank 9 Attitude Gu, its immense power radiating outward, far surpassing the strength of her previous Gu. Slowly, tendrils of this powerful energy began to wrap around Bai Ning Bing, digging deep into his core.
Bai Ning Bing's mind jolted, the influence of the Attitude Gu sinking into his very spirit, insidious and overwhelming. Unlike the Manipulation Gu's subtle pressure, this power was suffocating, relentless, seeking to erode his will entirely.
"No…" Bai Ning Bing's thoughts raced, the pull of the Gu hammering against his mind. "I refuse to be anyone's puppet. I am Bai Ning Bing, a demon. I was born to fight, to conquer or die on my own terms."
Yet, the Attitude Gu's influence was unyielding. It worked slowly, wrapping around his pride and defiance like a snake, gradually tightening its hold. For the first time, a flicker of doubt crossed Bai Ning Bing's mind. He could feel parts of himself slipping, his rebellious spirit flickering against the Gu's overpowering influence.
Fang Shung watched as his expression shifted, the faintest trace of inner conflict appearing in his eyes. She smiled, her satisfaction barely concealed.
"Do you feel it, Bai Ning Bing?" she taunted. "Your defiance waning, your spirit crumbling. The strength you held so proudly is nothing before my will. Give in, and I may grant you a place beside me. Resist, and I will break you slowly."
He glared up at her, his expression twisted with both fury and a haunting sense of inevitability. "Is this how I end? Forced to submit like a puppet… chained by someone else's will?" A surge of resentment clawed at him, but with each second, the Attitude Gu tightened its grip, chipping away at his thoughts of resistance.
Bai Ning Bing's vision blurred again, memories surfacing—facing his enemies, laughing in the face of danger, his desire to live freely, no matter how reckless. He could almost hear the mocking laughter of the world itself, as if it were taunting him for his dreams of freedom.
"Curse this world," he thought, his spirit trembling as the Gu pressed deeper, twisting his thoughts. "I am Bai Ning Bing… I will not bow…" Yet the conviction felt faint, his inner voice distant, as if it were being smothered under a heavy weight.
Finally, Fang Shung's voice cut through his wavering thoughts, smooth and relentless. "Submit, Bai Ning Bing. I will give you purpose, something even greater than the death you so foolishly seek. Embrace it."
A dark, subtle change crept into his eyes, the final fragments of his resistance beginning to crack under the immense pressure of the Attitude Gu. His breathing slowed, and the rebellious fire in his gaze dulled slightly, replaced by a strange calm—a forced acceptance.
But deep within, a small sliver of his true self remained, a whisper echoing in the back of his mind. "One day, I will break free… I will show her… I will show the world…" The thought faded, almost drowned, yet still present—a faint ember buried under layers of forced obedience.
Fang Shung smiled, satisfied. She had him now. Bai Ning Bing, her once defiant adversary, would serve her plans. The demon's will had bent, but she knew he was no ordinary captive. She would watch him carefully, keep him close, until he was truly hers.
For now, however, Fang Shung had what she needed. Bai Ning Bing's fierce power, tempered by her control, would become an invaluable asset to her. She turned, gesturing to the enslaved elders. "Take him. We have work to do."
As they lifted him, Bai Ning Bing's expression remained impassive, his mind quiet but restless. Somewhere in the recesses of his mind, the faintest trace of rebellion lingered, waiting, like a shadow biding its time in silence.....
But it was soon gone too, replaced with dull and numbness.
[Words 4171]
[End Of Volume One: Unholy]