Chapter 11: Mission on the Horizon
Hello, I hope you all are having a good day :)
Here are today's questions:
1. What do you think is the average lifespan of a variant human rank 8 immortal?
2. Do you prefer the Sect or Clan systems?
3. How many variant human immortals do you think exist in the current era?
Zhao Wen's POV
One month later
Inside the pavilion, an illusionary figure could be seen moving rapidly while attempting various complex movements. Punching and kicking the air, the figure kept shifting between material and immaterial as it attempted to execute its technique.
After some time, the figure completed one final move before materializing. Sitting down, Zhao Wen calmed his breathing as he took out a storage-type Gu to drink some water while reviewing his latest training session.
A month had passed since he had been officially accepted as an elder of the Ye clan. As Lord Han had said, he had been informed that he would be assigned to lead one of the Mo Zu squads, specifically the soon-to-be-revived Hong Mo troop that had been the cause of the original Zhao Wen's death.
[I have four months left before I take over the Hong Mo troop. In this time, I need to focus on increasing my battle strength and attainment as much as possible.]
As he thought about this, he took out some primeval essence stones to recover his primeval essence. He had been training this past month to master the fighting style of Phantom Fiend.
[This Phantom Rotation fighting style is truly hard to master. I truly understand why Phantom Fiend was so feared when he was alive. The Phantom Rotation style requires me to manipulate Turn Phantom and Condense Phantom simultaneously to straddle the line between true and false.
When I fully master this method, I will be able to partially materialize my attacks to bypass any physical defensive move and directly strike the vulnerable internal organs of my enemy. Although the basic form of this move is not a killer move, it serves as a perfect foundation to build phantom path killer moves.
If I had Astral Claws Gu or used the killer move: Phantom Fiend Regalia, my attacks would also affect the soul of my target.]
Continuing to absorb the primeval essence inside the primeval essence stones, Zhao Wen thought,
[Although Phantom Rotation is powerful, it consumes massive amounts of primeval essence. I used those two relic Gu and advanced to rank 3 upper stage, but I am still unable to sustain this move for long. I truly understand why Phantom Fiend chose to become an assassin.
With this technique, acting as an ambush predator is the best choice. If I can get the jump on my enemy by attacking from underground or through a wall, I can deliver a fatal sneak attack to their vital organs like the heart or brain.
When I have enough primeval essence to maintain Phantom Fiend Regalia while using Phantom Rotation, I will be able to savage the enemy's soul while attacking their internal organs. If the sneak attack is executed perfectly, I might be able to kill a rank 4 Gu master.]
As he thought about the power of Phantom Rotation, Zhao Wen sighed as he contemplated his current problem. To use Phantom Rotation, the Gu master needed to carefully toe the line between material and immaterial, between true and false.
This was already a delicate procedure that required great finesse, but Zhao Wen was hampered by the strength path dao marks carved on his body. The strength path dao marks originating from the original Zhao Wen's strength path cultivation interfered with Turn Phantom and Condense Phantom Gu.
Not only was the speed of shifting between solid and phantom affected, but Zhao Wen also needed to use more primeval essence to Turn Phantom.
[Sigh, if I didn't have Amplify Effect Gu, I wouldn't be able to use Phantom Rotation at all. When I can use Phantom Fiend Gu reliably, I need to look into removing my strength path dao marks.
Although my body's strength substitutes for a close-ranged offensive Phantom path Gu like Astral Claws Gu, it is interfering with my utilization of my Phantom path moves.]
Standing up after having recovered some of his primeval essence, Zhao Wen returned to practicing Phantom Rotation. As he practiced, he recalled,
[In Phantom Fiend's inheritance, there are three levels to Phantom Rotation. The first level, and most basic, is using Turn Phantom and Condense Phantom together with an offensive type Gu like Astral Claws Gu to strike at the internal organs of the enemy. This is the level I am currently attempting to master.
Conservatively, I should be able to perform this stably within a month or two. Above that is integrating the killer move: Flying Phantom into the attacks, thereby enabling attacks from the air and generally increasing the agility of the user. I should be able to do this by the time of the aperture opening ceremony in four months.
As for the final level, that involves utilizing the killer move: Flying Phantom together with the killer move: Phantom Fiend Regalia. This is the final version of Phantom Rotation and is the reason why Phantom Fiend was such a feared demonic Gu master when he was alive.]
As Zhao Wen continued cultivating, he was disturbed after some hours by a rank 2 Winged Letter Gu. Opening the letter, Zhao Wen read it quickly before frowning,
[That old man has a mission for me? I thought I made it clear that I wanted to spend this half-year in secluded cultivation to digest Phantom Fiend's inheritance? What is this about the Ye clan organizing a punitive mission against the bandit group that attacked their latest caravan?
I understand that as a righteous path force they need to protect their reputation, but why am I among the rank 3 elders being sent out to exterminate the bandits? Can't I be left alone? Why am I being dragged into this? Sigh, I better go and ask that old geezer what he was thinking.]
---
Sitting inside the office of the Han branch's patriarch, Zhao Wen listened to Lord Han's explanation.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for you to avenge your parents. The clan suspects that the Rock Python group was initially lured to the caravan by the bandits to weaken its defenses. Those demonic path demons are the murderers of your parents. Isn't this a great chance to take revenge?"
Hearing the Han patriarch say this, Zhao Wen tried to show a moved and indignant mood while internally thinking,
[What do I care for the parents of this body? It is actually good that they are dead. If anyone would be able to notice the changes in my actions from the original Zhao Wen, it would be them. What, getting revenge for my parents? They are still living their ordinary lives back on Earth.]
As Zhao Wen thought about his family back on Earth, he showed a slightly sorrowful expression.
[By this time, my body has probably already been buried. I hope my younger brother doesn't take my death too harshly. Sigh, Arthur Smith is already dead and probably buried. I should focus on living this new life that destiny has given me.]
"Father-in-law, I understand the necessity of going on this mission for the clan. Can you introduce the other elders that I will be accompanying on this bandit extermination mission?"
Hearing Zhao Wen, Lord Han smiled faintly, saying,
"This mission is of great importance to your future development of the Hong Mo troop. If you perform well, you can get priority in selecting new recruits for the Hong Mo, and if you manage to capture some rank 3 bandits, the clan can use our slavery Gu to add them to your troop.
This mission is a good opportunity to acquire some expendable rank 3 Gu masters. This reason is why Elder Luo will be joining the mission. He is our clan's primary enslavement path expert managing a group of Sand Gulls for the clan."
Sand Gulls were one of the more common mounts in western desert. Their primary selling point was that they were cheap to feed, as they only ate ordinary grass and drank ordinary water. They looked like a combination between an ostrich and a seagull, being capable of running on land and flying in the air with a passenger.
The main flaw with the Sand Gulls was that their fertility rate was fairly poor, with only three to four out of ten eggs ever hatching.
Hearing Lord Han mention Sand Gulls, Zhao Wen grew interested, asking, "We raise Sand Gulls? I thought we didn't have any in the clan?"
He was fairly certain that the Ye clan didn't raise any flying mounts, as this was something he had looked into after arriving in Ye Hu Oasis. Hearing Zhao Wen's question, Lord Han responded,
"Elder Luo recently managed to purchase a hundred-beast group of Sand Gulls. The recent disastrous encounter with the Rock Python group made the clan willing to spend some resources to acquire some flying mounts for our scouts.
The punitive force will use Elder Luo's Sand Gull group to hunt for the bandits. Out of the five rank 3 elders being sent on this mission, you are already familiar with Elder Du and Elder Song. Xie Long, as the new judgment hall elder, has been chosen to lead this mission."
"Father-in-law, I have yet to fully grasp Phantom Fiend's inheritance. As you know, I used to cultivate my family's strength path inheritance. This previous foundation is now interfering with my Phantom path cultivation. Have you found a rank 3 Old Removal Gu?
Using Phantom Fiend's methods is challenging when my body interferes with them. Also, has my request for that rank 3 Dark Limit Gu been approved? If I have that Gu, it will be easier to use Phantom Fiend's methods."
Hearing Zhao Wen's questions, Lord Han said,
"Your request for the Dark Limit Gu has been approved. It will be considered as your reward from the clan for your breakthrough to rank 3. Are you still certain you want to use your opportunity to ask for a Flash of Inspiration Gu? You could still use the chance to request another rank 3 Gu from the treasury, like your mother's rank 3 Hatred Gu, for example."
[It took them a while. When I initially asked for it as my complementary rank 3 Gu, the treasury elder seemed so reluctant. Well, whatever, this old man managed to get it for me eventually. He is still dodging the request for an Old Removal Gu.
The Han branch might not have one, or maybe he wants me to give him more of Phantom Fiend's inheritance before handing it over.]
Giving an earnest smile, Zhao Wen answered, "No, it's fine. You told me that if I gave you Phantom Vault's recipe, you could get me access to the ascension formation for a few days?
I want to use Flash of Inspiration to comprehend some parts of the inheritance I am uncertain about. Our Han branch is famous for selling the rank 3 Flash of Inspiration Gu, surely we have some stored in our treasury."
Seeing Zhao Wen's determination to get Flash of Inspiration Gu, Lord Han could only relent. Fighting over this wasn't worth it.
"That's fine then. You can go to the treasury and take some. There is still a month left before the mission starts. Do you have any Gu you need help refining? It's about time I start refining next year's batch of Flash of Inspiration Gu.
If you want, we can also exchange cultivation insights. I might even be able to make enough time to teach you about some Gu refinement techniques before you leave."
Hearing Lord Han's suggestion to share more of Phantom Fiend's inheritance, Zhao Wen contemplated,
[He didn't specify the amount of Flash of Inspiration Gu I can take. This is probably him asking me to provide enough of Phantom Fiend's inheritance to cover for the Han branch's loss of revenue. Hmm, ideally I would like to take two to three Flash of Inspiration Gu to help in my deduction.
I do need to refine Phantom Pellet Gu to give me a long-range attacking option… alright, I will share some of Phantom Fiend's primeval essence manipulation techniques and some of his refinement experiences.
With the help of that formation and two to three Flash of Inspiration Gu, I should be able to speed up my comprehension of Phantom Rotation and my mastery of the Flying Phantom killer move. Ultimately, I am willing to give up this entire inheritance if it would speed up my journey to the immortal realm.
Phantom Fiend's Gu recipes, cultivation experiences, and knowledge are things I already know. Their value to me is only determined by what I can get in exchange for them.]
"Father-in-law, I have been meaning to ask you about this for some time. I would like your help refining a rank 2 Gu called Phantom Pellet Gu. I was unsure when an appropriate time to ask for your help would arrive.
If you give me an information path Gu, I will write down the recipes and some of Phantom Fiend's insights regarding Gu cultivation. If you think the recipes are feasible, I would like your help refining the Gu."
After having Zhao Wen add the information to the Gu, Lord Han inspected the contents. When he was done, he gave Zhao Wen an approving smile.
"This recipe is indeed very good. I see no apparent problems with refining this Gu. Little Zhao, you can go and take some Flash of Inspiration Gu from the treasury now.
I need to study this recipe. I will give you some guidance on Gu refinement starting next week. Once I have taught you the basics, we will refine this Gu together."
Bowing to Lord Han before leaving the room, Zhao Wen made his way towards the treasury. He had Gu to collect after all.