Gu’s Immortal Firmament:
The Mosquito Daoist’s black mosquitoes had devoured the raving Dahong, and the boundless resentment filled the Mosquito Daoist’s Heart of Darkness, also known as the Mosquito-Fly Heart of Darkness.
The Mosquito Daoist’s body immediately swelled, radiating a powerful aura.
“Did you reach consummation of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm, Mosquito Daoist?” asked Long Shenying.
Shaking his head, the Mosquito Daoist replied, “Not yet. I still need more of this resentment.”
“Huh?” Gu Hai responded in confusion.
“This official is still a little short. This official is incapable!” the Mosquito Daoist said with a bitter smile.
Gu Hai consoled, “It does not matter if you did not reach the consummation of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm. It’s fine as long as your cultivation improved.”
“Yes!” The Mosquito Daoist nodded.
Gu Hai said thoughtfully, “Since Ji Dihong has sent people to cultivate this mind control, there must be others besides Dahong. There will be an opportunity later.”
“Yes!”
An extremely secluded valley in the Huang Heavenly Dynasty, Divine Continent:
Ji Dihong stood at the entrance. The chilling screams of a woman echoed inside.
A woman cried out desperately, “Even in death, I won’t let you off. Give back my son!”
Her resentment darkened the sky like a massive wave.
“Argh!”
Boom!
Suddenly, a scream rang out, followed by an explosion.
Soon, a group of yellow-clad guards dragged out a man dressed in white. His head had exploded, presenting a gruesome sight.
A guard reported respectfully to Ji Dihong, “Your Holy Eminence, it’s another failure.”
Ji Dihong’s eyes narrowed. “What’s the situation?”
One guard said bitterly, “Your Holy Eminence, we have been mimicking the technique Dahong used to aid in the cultivation of this shaman race secret technique. So far, only Lord Dahong could endure the resentment of a pregnant woman losing her child while practicing this cultivation technique. Everyone else had their minds overwhelmed by the resentment, and their heads exploded.”
Ji Dihong’s face turned grim at this report. “So, only Dahong can cultivate this?”
The guard answered, “Yes, no one else has endured it for now, unless Dahong inducted them into the cultivation technique. However, they would end up Dahong’s vessels and would depend on Dahong transferring Shaman Energy every once in a while. Without it, their spiritual souls would explode, and they would die. Currently, only Lord Dahong can cultivate this independently.”
This made Ji Dihong’s complexion turn even grimmer.
Emperor Kong, who followed behind Ji Dihong, asked in shock, “Your Holy Eminence, are you certain that Dahong is dead?”
Ji Dihong replied coldly, “Dahong had inducted a hundred people. He took fifty to pursue Gu Hai and left fifty in Xuanyuan City. However, they all died overnight. Dahong’s death meant their heart cores were no longer restrained, and the resentment exploded them.”
Emperor Kong looked grim as well. He wondered, “Did Gu Hai die?”
Ji Dihong’s face turned sullen. “Mind control consumes resentment. We have been waiting for an opportunity all these years, not using it to prevent its exposure for a chance to control all the sovereigns and sect masters within a day. Unfortunately, I was stopped before I could…”
Emperor Kong asked anxiously, “So, what do we do now?”
Ji Dihong declared coldly, “We continue testing people. Find those who are utterly evil in prison and experiment one by one. I refuse to believe no one else can practice this cultivation technique without Dahong!”
“Yes!”
The void:
Mao Tianyun pointed gleefully. “That way! Hurry! We’re back!”
Since deciding to return, Gu Hai’s group drifted in the void for nearly a month under Long Wanyu’s guidance to find the way back to the Six Paths Immortal Firmament.
They could already see an enormous structure before their eyes. Stars twisted by time and space naturally surrounded the edges of this structure. Seeing these stars, everyone felt a surge of familiarity. Were they back in the Six Paths Immortal Firmament?
As they were about to rush into the star cluster, Lady Houtu’s face changed drastically.
“That’s…Houqing?” Lady Houtu exclaimed.
Everyone followed her gaze and saw a massive yellow net in the void at the edge of the Six Paths Immortal Firmament. The net flowed like a liquid, seemingly replenished continuously by yellow energy flowing from the Six Paths Immortal Firmament.
Houqing was bound spread-eagled in the center of the net. His body was emitting black energy as if all his energy was dissolving.
“Houqing is tied up? Didn’t he return to the Six Paths Immortal Firmament?” Kong Xuan exclaimed in surprise.
Mao Tianyun glared and said, “Serves him right! Meow! Why did he run away?”
Long Wanqing looked shocked. “Does this ritual array use the energy of the Yellow Springs Sea? The continuous supply of Yellow Springs Weak Water powers the ritual array, preventing Houqing from returning. He has been in the void for a good part of a year now and probably can’t hold on much longer.”
Lady Houtu turned to the skeleton Gu Hai with a plea in her eyes. “After almost a year in the void, Houqing can’t hold on much longer. Mister Gu…”
Regardless of her anger with Houqing, he was still her younger brother. Lady Houtu wanted to save Houqing, but she knew everything depended on Gu Hai’s approval, as Long Wanyu listened to Gu Hai.
“We’ll go over there!” Gu Hai decided without hesitation.
“Thank you!” Lady Houtu said gratefully.
Previously, Houqing had betrayed everyone when he parted ways with the group. However, Gu Hai decided to save him on Lady Houtu’s account.
Their team moved swiftly towards the Yellow Springs Weak Water Ritual Array, and soon, they stood right before it.
“Let me go!” The feeble Houqing could barely speak. Waves of Void Energy rushed into him, continually breaking down his strength. Houqing’s energy had scattered, leaving him with no strength to struggle, and his body was on the verge of dissolution.
A green light sphere was visible in his brow, half buried and half protruding.
Chilling laughter came from the ritual array. “Hehehehe! Houqing, you are quite resilient. Still alive? Don’t blame us. Blame your zombie ancestor seed for being so valuable, or blame yourself for being so foolish! The ritual array was just set up when you walked right into it! Hehehehe!”
Houqing quivered. “I can give you the zombie ancestor seed. Just let me go!”
“Let you go? Hehehehe! Do you think we are fools?” A cold voice laughed through the array. “When Lifespan Chunshen asked me to come over, I was just going to block Gu Hai’s way back and kill him to settle old scores. However, I didn’t expect to get such a harvest: a zombie ancestor seed. I can use it to create a new wind-attributed zombie ancestor. Houqing, you’ve had it for so many years and made nothing of it. What a waste!”
Houqing roared in fury, “Let me go, Lifespan Dongfang! Fight me head-on, one-on-one, if you dare!”
“Humph! Do you think I’m a fool? One-on-one? I didn’t even plan to face Gu Hai. I activated the ritual array in the Yellow Springs Sea instead. Jiang Lianshan laid this ritual array. It is based on Yellow Springs Weak Water and extends beyond the void. Humph! Jiang Lianshan wanted to kill Heaven beyond the immortal firmament, just like the Six Paths Veritable Lord did. He created this Yellow Springs Weak Water Ritual Array, but to me, it’s just a joke; it can’t stop the Six Paths Immortal or even an ordinary consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivator who is cautious. But, Houqing, you really are stupid. You fell into Jiang Lianshan’s useless trap?” Lifespan Dongfang’s mocking voice rang out again.
“Argh!” Houqing let out a frustrated roar.
“Just wait. Your body will soon dissolve. When you are completely disintegrated, it’ll be time for me to collect the zombie ancestor seed!” Lifespan Dongfang’s voice came from the ritual array.
“No, it wasn’t supposed to be like this!” Houqing was bitter and full of resentment, but he could not break free. The ritual array was being drained of Yellow Springs Weak Water, but it was being constantly replenished from below, and he was helpless.
Houqing finally regretted his rashness. Had I known, I would not have returned alone. It’s all Gu Hai’s fault! If not for him, I would not have lost my rationality!
His vision blurring, Houqing closed his eyes weakly.
Whoosh!
Just as he succumbed to despair, a sudden burst of light appeared. It was Gu Hai’s group.
“Is this a lifespan ritual array?” the Unborn Man asked in astonishment.
“Lifespan ritual array?” the skeleton Gu Hai echoed in surprise.
“Yes, Your Reverence. We just need to strike these eight Yellow Springs channels at the same time to break the ritual array.” The Unborn Man quickly pointed out the weak spots.
“Houqing, what happened to you?” Lady Houtu cried out in horror.
The anxious Lady Houtu attacked eight of the energy streams feeding the ritual array, following the Unborn Man’s instructions.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Yellow Springs Weak Water Ritual Array shattered, freeing Houqing.
“Elder Sister, is it you? Elder Sister!” Houqing was overjoyed at the sight of Lady Houtu.
“Who dares to break my ritual array?!” A furious voice came from the other end of the ritual array.
The skeleton Gu Hai sneered, “Lifespan Dongfang? How lucky! Sometimes, you find what you’re looking for when you least expect it; he came right to us.”
Whoosh!
They dashed into the midst of countless stars, entering the Six Paths Immortal Firmament, and returned to the skies above the Yellow Springs Sea.
When they reentered the world, they were immediately overcome with a sense of homecoming. They had had enough of their perilous existence in the void, having to be wary all the time, and were relieved to be back.
The lifespan cultivator, Lifespan Dongfang?
Gu Hai ordered, “Kong Xuan, find Lifespan Dongfang and capture him.”
“Yes!” Kong Xuan responded, disappearing in a flash and heading towards the source of the voice.
Lady Houtu infused energy into Houqing to help him recover. Although awake, Houqing seemed to have lost much of his cultivation, his body was cracked like dry earth, and he could not move at all.
“I’m sorry, Elder Sister,” Houqing apologized regretfully.
However, Mao Tianyun mocked, “Meow! Houqing, weren’t you being stubborn earlier?”
Gu Hai’s true body emerged from the Gu’s Immortal Firmament. Upon seeing him, Long Wanqing stepped forward, taking his hand with a soft light in her eyes.
“Wanqing, we’re back,” Gu Hai said gently, holding Long Wanqing’s hand.
“Yes,” Long Wanqing replied softly.
The Mosquito Daoist, Long Shenying, Long Wanyu, and the Unborn Man emerged from Gu’s Immortal Firmament behind Gu Hai’s true body. Then they headed towards Kong Xuan’s location to help capture Lifespan Dongfang, while Long Wanyu looked enviously at her sister.
