76 Bao vs Wen: Tipping point
Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land
"It was quite the sensation, was it not? Delightful, indeed. Or does my assistance not elicit your joy?" - The voice spoke again, an unsettling blend of amusement and curiosity.
Qinyang's instinct was to retreat, to seek the safety of concealment, but as she scanned the room, she realized that exits were absent, a revelation that heightened her sense of entrapment.
Through the dimly lit chamber of the immortal gu house, a presence emerged, casting a palpable aura that seemed to resonate with the very fabric of the room. The air itself seemed to quiver with anticipation, a subtle shift that heralded the arrival of an enigmatic figure.
In the midst of the shadows, a form materialized, a teenage boy with an uncanny air about him. His countenance held an otherworldly quality, a fusion of innocence and ancient wisdom that defied explanation. His eyes, deep pools of mystery, held a gaze that seemed to pierce through the layers of reality, a gaze that spoke of secrets held close and a knowledge that spanned eons.
As he stepped into view, his presence seemed to radiate an ethereal luminescence, casting a gentle glow that danced upon the surrounding surfaces. His clothing, a simple yet timeless attire, seemed to meld seamlessly with his aura, as if an extension of his very being.
There was a weightiness to his presence, an awareness of the countless years he had traversed, and the burdens of time seemed to rest upon his shoulders. Yet, within his gaze, there flickered a spark of youthful exuberance, a reminder that despite the ages he had witnessed, a spirit of vitality still burned within.
Qinyang's eyes fell upon a figure that defied her expectations.
Before her stood a youth, seemingly no older than a mere adolescent. The incongruity of the situation sent a chill down her spine.
Unperturbed by her silence, the young figure continued his unsettling discourse.
"Ah, the sweet taste of retribution. You wielded the gu house to carry out vengeance. Are the echoes of satisfaction resonating within you?"
"Who is this?" - Her thoughts churned, skepticism gnawing at her.
"A child, barely older than twelve... Could he be one of those age-old monsters, concealing their true nature with a youthful appearance?"
Doubt crept insidiously into her mind, shrouding the boy's presence in an aura of unease. The pieces of the puzzle did not align, and the more she contemplated, the more the situation appeared incongruous.
"Tell me, who are you?"
"I am Jue Shi." - The child's introduction was straightforward, his gaze a relentless weight upon Qinyang, unsettling her further. His demeanor exuded an eerie familiarity, a knowing that she could not quite place.
As if voicing his own inner musings, Jue Shi continued, the words weaving through the air like a shadowy dance.
"My, my! Why you remain silent? Could it be that my trust is yet to be earned? After all, offering you to use the gu house should have been a convincing gesture, should it not? Ah, but it seems my plan may have been rather... flawed."
Qinyang's unease grew, her mind grappling with the uncanny conversation that unfolded before her. Each word seemed to further entwine her in a web of intrigue that she could not escape.
"Are you... the one controlling this gu house?" - She ventured, her voice quivering as uncertainty gripped her.
Jue Shi's response bore a weighty revelation, his words resonating with a chilling significance.
"Yes! Three thousand years of waiting, all for the advent of the otherworldly demon. And now, here you stand, as the culmination of my patient anticipation. This encounter was destined, it was meant to happen!"
"Umm, ok? How do you know of my existence? And why would a Wen clan gu immortal be looking for an otherworldly demon?" - Qinyang's voice was a blend of uncertainty and skepticism, her gaze fixed intently on the enigmatic figure before her.
In a sudden shift of demeanor, Jue Shi's agitation became palpable, his voice tinged with a fierce protectiveness.
"Who dares to seek you out? Name them, and I shall shatter their skulls and drain their blood!"
Caught off guard by his vehement response, Qinyang's mind raced to comprehend the unfolding situation.
"Hold on, Jue Shi. Whose side are you on? Is this not Wen clan's gu house?"
A wave of urgency colored her words, her inquiry aimed at unraveling the enigma that stood before her.
Jue Shi's subsequent words seemed to echo with a fervent urgency, a desperation to assert his stance in this cryptic affair.
"I stand on my own side! No, no, that does not bode well for misunderstandings. What I mean to say is, I stand by your side!"
A skeptical eyebrow arched on Qinyang's brow as she parsed his response.
"Who do you want to convince like that? That's suspicious as hell!" - She thought, her mind vigilant and probing.
"So, you are not related to the Wen clan then?" - Qinyang wanted to clarify.
Jue Shi's response carried an air of resignation, his voice tinged with a mix of explanation and urgency.
"No, I have no allegiance to the Wen clan or any other. I am the unknown keeper of this gu house, a mere embodiment of its will and purpose. It was no accident that I allowed the Wen clan to wield this gu house, for I knew that your presence, otherworldly demon, would eventually be here."
"And so, what is it that you want from me?" - Qinyang's inquiry was tinged with a mix of curiosity and caution, her gaze fixed upon Jue Shi.
His response was succinct, carrying with it a weighty proposition.
"To become the next owner of this gu house."
Qinyang's brow furrowed slightly, a thoughtful contemplation accompanying his words.
"And what of the previous owners? Where are they?"
Jue Shi's reply was tinged with a hint of somberness.
"Most of them... passed away... of natural causes."
Acceptance settled within Qinyang's gaze. A quiet understanding passed between them, Qinyang's acquiescence sealed with a nod.
The acceptance of her newfound role seemed to bring a sense of elation to Jue Shi, his demeanor exuding an air of fulfillment.
Yet, her mind remained vigilant, casting its gaze upon the external currents of the world outside. As there was no more competition, the Bao clan and Wen clan had joined hands to went their frustrations, their target was the Ash Pit Vulture.
The sooner they got rid of the tribulations the less harm it would cause to the Blue Beaver Blessed Land.
The realization dawned upon her that her actions could not escape scrutiny. She would be discovered after the immortals finish their current agenda. The repercussions of her involvement would ripple outward, demanding her to chart a course through this chaos.
A sudden inspiration ignited within her, a plan born from the exigencies of the moment. The lifeless form of Hao Jiong, held a potential solution.
Turning to Jue Shi, she posed a crucial inquiry, her voice laced with urgency.
"Can this gu house suppress immortal apertures?"
Jue Shi's affirmative response fueled her newfound scheme, a spark of determination igniting within her.
"Then assist me in this. We must seize Hao Jiong's body, and swiftly."
Coordinated efforts ensued as Qinyang and Jue Shi manipulated the gu house to secure Hao Jiong's lifeless form, suppressing it within the levels of the structure.
However, an enigma seemed to unravel within Jue Shi's consciousness, his attention momentarily diverted.
"Curious." - He mused, his gaze slightly distant. "The wills have refined the mortal gu worms of the gu house's... this should not be possible."
Qinyang's brow furrowed, her curiosity piqued by Jue Shi's statement.
"Explain yourself." - She implored.
A procession of images flickered within Jue Shi's perception, a montage of scenes unfolding as he started to look into this matter.
"The other wills pose no true threat, mere echoes of my grandeur." - Jue Shi whispered under his breath, his focus unwavering as he delved into the gu house's security footage, unraveling the threads of intrigue that had led them to this moment.
In a revelation that echoed through the chamber, he exclaimed, "Ah, there you are. Concealing yourself beneath our very feet!" With swift precision, he reached into the fabric of the gu house's mechanisms and drew forth Bao Zhi, transporting him into their midst.
Jue Shi's voice carried a note of rebuke as he addressed Bao Zhi, his resolve unyielding. "You thought to manipulate the gu house's power, to refine its essence for your own designs? A futile endeavor, indeed!"
A swift gesture from Jue Shi sealed Bao Zhi's movements, the once-hidden figure now held captive by the gu house's mechanisms.
Qinyang observed the scene, her gaze lingering on Bao Zhi's eight-feet-tall form of flowing black hair and defined body. Yet, an unsettling emptiness pervaded the air, an effect born of Concealed Human Qi, rendering him inscrutable.
Bao Zhi's acceptance of his circumstances resonated with a calm wisdom, a recognition that resistance would be futile in the face of their power.
He watched with a shrewd gaze.
As Jue Shi delved into Bao Zhi's past, he encountered an enigmatic void, a lack of information that shrouded the figure in mystery.
"No results. A member of the Bao clan, it seems." - Jue Shi concluded.
Yet, as Qinyang's patience began to wane, her thoughts tumbled forth in a torrent of frustration. "This situation, all stemmed from your intervention. How should I face an entire clan now? Could this gu house perhaps rewind time?!" - Her words were laden with a sense of desperation, a yearning for an escape.
A silence settled over the chamber as Bao Zhi observed quietly, he felt the tension and turbulence in Qinyang's human qi.
Bao Zhi's voice, a sudden rupture in the stillness, cut through the air like a blade, carrying an offer that bore the weight of an impending decision.
"Girl." - His voice held a certain gravitas, a tone that carried the weight of an unspoken authority.
"I have an offer for you to consider. I can help you escaping this place."
"And what price would you exact?"
Her inquiry was laced with a keen awareness, Qinyang knew there wasn't such a thing as a free lunch, this person definitely wanted something of his own.
A measured response escaped Bao Zhi's lips, his words carrying a hint of revelation.
Bao Zhi's response was straightforward, his intentions laid bare before her. "All I seek is the temporary use of the gu house to retrieve a specific inheritance, one that I have been in pursuit of."
Qinyang's gaze flickered between Bao Zhi and Jue Shi, the embodiment of the gu house's will. The latter's disposition seemed unaffected, indifferent to the temporary transfer of its ownership, like how Wen clan used it for many years.
Qinyang's innate caution demanded a formal agreement, a pact that would bind Bao Zhi's words to his actions.
Drawing upon her inheritance, Qinyang produced a gu worm and began crafting the terms of their agreement, the document taking form as a binding information path agreement.
With each clause, each stipulation, the accord solidified, a testament to the meticulous nature of their negotiation.
A process of give and take ensued, the agreement took shape through a delicate balance of compromise and stipulation.
Within its verses lay the understanding of shared interests, an alliance forged in necessity, where each party sought to gain from the other's strengths.
Finally, the binding information path agreement was activated.
From beyond the confines of the gu house, the reverberation of a resounding impact echoed, followed by a mournful cry of agony that sliced through the air.
The Ash Pit Vulture's time was up. Against its last indignant struggles, it was exterminated by the gu immortals.
In the wake of this tumultuous culmination, a new voice emerged from the tapestry of events, a female voice that cut through the air with purpose.
"Old Refinement, the moment has arrived!" - Wen Jie shouted!
The gates of the gu house opened suddenly. The figures of Old Refinement and Shou Xin could be seen briefly before a powerful aura erupted in all directions.
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