72 Bao vs Wen: Wings of flame soar high
Treasure Blue Beaver Blessed Land
The resonant shockwave, born from the detonation of Hao Meng's Blazing Glory Lightning Brilliance physique, reverberated with an unyielding force, shaking even the walls of the immortal gu house Wondrous Inspiration Pagoda.
Bao Zhi, engrossed in his meticulous refinement of the gu house, was abruptly startled by this disturbance, his senses heightened and alert. With an investigative move, he swiftly surveyed his surroundings, his focus finally settling upon the battlefield's location above.
There, a colossal column of flame ascended towards the sky, casting its fiery radiance upon all it touched. Amidst the conflagration, an enigmatic figure stood resolute, bathed in a luminosity so blinding and pure that it rivaled the very essence of the sky itself, it was none other than Hao Meng.
In this tempestuous spectacle, the stage crackled and quivered with flashes of purple lightning, an awe-inspiring display of power from Hao Meng.
The protective formation around the stage contested the might of the Blazing Glory Lightning Brilliance physique and swiftly activated, shielding the onlookers from its catastrophic might.
Even with the brunt of the force blocked, the onlookers' faces were irradiated with intense heat and light as they covered their eyes reflexively, their jaws hung agape.
The scars of prior battles were consumed by the scorching flames, leaving behind naught but remnants of their existence and flames on the ground.
Only two Life Marking Flares hung now above the field, testament to the survivors who had managed to withstand the onslaught—those whose lives had not been untimely extinguished, reduced to mere ashes, or forcibly expelled from the stage by the sudden explosion.
Bao Li Mu found himself trapped within a web of uncertainty as he confronted the formidable presence of Hao Meng.
The unfolding events had far surpassed his expectations, leaving him at a loss for a decisive course of action.
Sensing the danger that lurked within these scorching flames emanating from Hao Meng's being, Bao Li Mu swiftly distanced himself, fortifying his defenses to shield against the relentless onslaught.
The fiery tendrils of Hao Meng's inferno tantalizingly licked at Bao Li Mu's wooden bulwarks, hungry for their taste, burning vigorously.
From an external vantage point, the scene appeared dire, for Bao Li Mu was engulfed on all sides by the fire. Yet, hidden within the depths of his formidable defenses, he remained unharmed by the encroaching flames.
Bao Li Mu pondered his next move with a mind fraught with indecision.
The situation demanded that he unleash even greater power to subdue his adversary. However, this predicament had already surpassed the boundaries of rank five, for who could have known that Hao Meng possessed a ten extreme physique?
Bao Li Mu's thoughts swirled with a tinge of lamentation, for he found himself in a truly unfortunate position. Should he retaliate with full might, victory would still be within his grasp, he estimated.
Yet in doing so, the veil concealing his true cultivation as a gu immortal would be irrevocably lifted. It would become evident to all that he transcended the realm of a mere rank five gu master.
On the other hand, if he refrained from employing his full strength and chose instead to endure the relentless flames, he would be resigned to weathering a barrage of attacks—a profound loss of face for the Bao clan in both cases, and a failure to uphold his clan's objectives.
As Hao Meng shattered his aperture, a transformation overtook his form, transmuting him into a dense, human-shaped radiance of fire.
Once a rank five peak stage gu master shatters their aperture, the realm of mortality would be shed like a worn cloak, and the mantle of becoming a gu immortal could be donned.
The explosive demise of his not-yet rank five aperture in times past would have spelled certain doom, the ten extreme physique's igniting in a cataclysmic surge would only bring unquestionable destruction.
Yet, in this moment, his breaking aperture signaled the dawning of a new realm, a step towards ascension.
Hao Meng attempted immortal ascension without even knowing it!
Hidden from his awareness, the knowledge of immortal ascension had been purposefully concealed by the manipulative hands of Hao Jiong, who sought to maintain control over the fates of her kin.
It was by a fortuitous twist of fate, as he hurled himself into a final, desperate struggle, that Hao Meng stumbled upon the pathway to becoming an immortal.
The Heaven and Earth responded to his unspoken plea, its Heaven and Earth qi coalesced and swirled in a mesmerizing dance around him.
Bao Li Mu, his eyes widening in disbelief, he recognized this phenomenon, a reminiscence of the most harrowing moments of his own life, when he too confronted the tribulations during his own ascension.
The gathering of Heaven and Earth qi grew ever more dense and furious, imbuing the surrounding environment with a different aura.
Bao Li Mu, sensing the potent convergence of these two forces, recoiled instinctively, his retreat dictated by the primal survival instinct.
But even in his retreat, he could not escape the influence of the entwined qi, suffering a resounding backlash in their presence when activating his gu.
The illusory walls encircling the battleground, erected by the protective formation, trembled and groaned under the immense strain. Mortal gu worms in it withered and perished, weakening its effect by the moment.
This was the characteristic of heaven and earth qi.
On the side, at the Wen clan, Hao Jiong, bearing visible distress upon her countenance, hastened towards the supreme elder, fairy Wen Jie.
"He broke his aperture. He wasn't supposed to do that!" - She thought.
"This is too soon. How dare he crosses my plans?!"
Hao Jiong's agitation was palpable, her thoughts focused on the precarious situation that Hao Meng now found himself in.
Desperate, she pleaded with Wen Jie, reminding her of the promise to bestow a fire path Immortal Gu upon Hao Meng.
Without it, Hao Meng's life would be forfeit.
The response from Wen Jie did not come swiftly; instead, her visage retained an air of serene composure as she meticulously deliberated.
"Though your contributions have not yet reached the threshold to warrant another immortal gu upon the Hao branch..." - She spoke with measure.
She knew of their main plan's progress had not yet reached completeness. And so, in a display of sagacity, she opted to bestow the Flame Wings Immortal Gu upon Hao Jiong, strategically employing this act to introduce a momentary delay.
"The circumstances that presently unfold are of paramount significance. In light of this, you shall have the Flame Wings Immortal Gu."
Aware of the stakes at hand, Wen Ji's measured calculations guided her choice. She understood that their aspirations hinged upon precise timing and the seamless execution of their plan.
With a measured motion, she retrieved the coveted immortal gu from the depths of her immortal aperture.
The Flame Wings Immortal Gu, a diminutive and exquisite creature of fiery essence, could rest delicately in the palm of one's hand, its presence both captivating and enchanting. Its form, reminiscent of a tiny insect, was an ethereal embodiment of the essence of fire itself.
The gu worm's body glistened with a luminescent glow, resembling a delicate flame dancing in the darkness.
The creature's translucent wings seemed to flicker and shimmer with vibrant hues of red, orange, and gold, as if they were perpetually engulfed in the eternal flames of a forge.
Each wing held intricate patterns, akin to fine veins of molten metal, tracing their way across the surface, revealing the timeless artistry of the fire within.
A radiant gleam illuminated the eyes of Hao Jiong. Her gaze fixated upon the resplendent Flame Wings Immortal Gu, its significance to her aspirations palpable.
"The key immortal gu for my dual cultivation of ice and fire!" - A surge of anticipation coursed through her veins, urging her to grab the coveted treasure.
Yet, in a swift motion, Wen Jie outpaced Hao Jiong's eager grasp, flicking the small gu worm toward the stage where Hao Meng fought.
When the Flame Wings Immortal Gu is activated by its user, a magnificent transformation occurs. The tiny insect unfurls its resplendent wings, igniting them with a brilliant burst of blazing fire.
The flames dance and ripple along the delicate contours of the wings, casting an ethereal light upon the surroundings, and granting wings of fire to the bearer.
As the flames lick and flicker, they take on a life of their own, moving with a graceful fluidity reminiscent of a bird in flight. The fiery wings, now fully ablaze, emitted a soft and mesmerizing crackling sound.
The Flame Wings Immortal Gu bestowed upon Hao Meng the ability to soar through the skies, leaving a trail of vibrant embers and a radiant aura in their wake as the gu arrived by his side.
"An immortal gu!" - A Bao clan immortal cursed in shock.
"What can an immortal gu achieve in a mortal's hand? Bao Li Mu also possesses a rank six immortal gu."
"Indeed. This is a show of weakness from Wen clan. They have to gamble an immortal gu to stabilize the situation."
Since the ancient times of Old Immortal Kong Jue's research into apertures, the method of ascension for the ten extreme physiques was discovered.
In Kong Jue's inheritance, the Immortal Aperture Strategy stated that an immortal gu of a matching path was needed for the ascension to work.
For example the Desolate Ancient Moon physique had to acquire a time path immortal gu. While Hao Meng had to use a fire or lighntning path immortal gu to match his physique.
Unexpectedly, Hao Meng found himself lingering in the realm of the living, despite the cataclysmic aftermath of his self-immolation.
As a glimmer of clarity returned to his consciousness, he was astounded to witness the arrival of the Flame Wings Immortal Gu at his side, its overbearing aura manifesting.
Yet, amidst the awe and relief that washed over him, an unsettling thought took root within his mind—an anxious concern that clawed at his being. With a heart filled with trepidation, he yearned to know the fate of Qinyang, his dearest.
Did she endure the devastating tempest he had unleashed upon the battlefield?
A voice resonated from within, reaching his ears with a comforting familiarity.
In response to his silent turmoil, the will of Wen Jie, emanating from the depths of the immortal gu, assuaged his worries, providing insight into his unfolding situation at present.
She instructed him on the course he must undertake, guiding his actions with a clarity born from her profound wisdom.
As these instructions resonated within his being, Hao Meng stood momentarily stunned, a mix of bewilderment and excitement permeating his voice.
"Is this the path that leads to rank six?" - He mused aloud, his words a testament to his bewildered yet invigorated spirit.
He realized that his journey, far from reaching its culmination, had merely begun to unfurl its intricate layers.
The struggle that lay before him, both external and internal, resonated within his being, fueling his determination.
"Wait for me, Qinyang!" - He pledged fervently, his voice imbued with unabated resolve.
"I have saved you, and now I must save myself as well!"
In the depths of his heart, he swore a silent oath to overcome the obstacles that stood in his way, embracing the arduous path that awaited him.
Yet, in the realm where Heaven and Earth held sway, equilibrium prevailed. For the tremendous potential harbored within the Ten Extreme Physiques, the heavens responded in kind, their heavenly balance demanding a matching tribulation of great proportions.
As the amalgamation of heaven and earth qi surged to their zenith, an ominous cloud materialized above Hao Meng, its brooding presence a harbinger of a formidable calamity about to be unleashed.
The rumblings of the heavens reverberated through the air, carrying a weighty resonance that echoed with divine decree.
The tribulation cloud, pregnant with the wrath of heaven's forces, loomed with an unfathomable power, its purpose clear—to test the mettle of Hao Meng, to measure his worthiness to ascend to rank six or perish in face of heaven's impartial judgement.
Hao Meng stood resolute, prepared to face the thunderous might of the tribulation, his spirit undaunted by the imminent clash between mortal frailty and the divine forces that sought to curb his destiny.
"Your tribulation is here." - Wen Jie's words told him.
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