Book 2: Chapter 79: Western Standoff |
Da Ruis floated at the very peak of the tallest tree within the entire forest and stared at the impossibility of nature before him. Never before had he thought such a thing could have been possible. Not in a million years could this have occurred unless someone had done something to manufacture the event. A potentiality that he doubted could have happened in this nearly Qi barren world with a monster at the power level of the Hu Patriarch.
He floated closer, leaned forward, and squinted his eyes just in case he was seeing hallucinations.
The past few months had proven that even he was susceptible to illusions, mind control, charm arrays, and more heinous things even in a pathetic place like this. His developed defenses were not adequate for the basics of elite manipulation of that calibre.
Maybe this was another such situation?
I doubt such a thing. Bloodlines are impossible to fake and my senses have been refined to locate the best disciples.
Before him rested a heron chick of red, oranges, and white feathers that nestled closer to the basic white and gray mother it had. Said mother was sleeping as most mortal creatures, or near mortal at the Qi Gathering Realm Stage 8 in this case, tended to do when they grew tired instead of cultivating and revitalizing themselves until their mental capacity reached its limit.
The further up you were the more leeway one would have to avoid wasting time dozing off.
Hu Shui was a prime example of prime lineage and bloodline. So young and still stuck at the very peak of the Qi Gathering Realm, but she rarely needed to sleep. Eating was solely to develop her body, core, and cultivation with the Heavenly Rice the Hu Patriarch made the girls eat. Thirst was sated with elixirs that did miracles and the occasional sip of legendary tea that their Ancestor refused to share with anyone except on said rare occasions.
The little phoenix shifted and yawned.
Blinking its wide eyes as it woke up and slowly turned around to notice him. Seeing his ghostly form even though he had been attempting to hide from it and the parent that could not sense him. Yet, it stared directly at him with curious eyes too young to understand the dangers of strangers near the nest as its parents would have. It tilted its head and squawked at him, sending clear Intent while still a baby.
Food! Hungry! Food! Hungry! Now! Food! Food! Its cries were relentless.
The mother startled from its sleep, pecked at the chick before it began to regurgitate directly into the chick''s mouth.
By all rules and laws that governed the very universe, this should have been impossible. A baby born must start at best, the level of its parents before it rose to become stronger. Its bloodline could not be two major ranks greater than its parents either. A basic heron like the mother had to be at the bottom rung of F-. Only an unranked mortal bird could be even lower.
Yet, the bloodline of the red chick had to be at least B+. Over four entire ranks and two sub-ranks difference.
All of his knowledge and information warred against the possibility yet it was before him.
I should check the other three They were equally as bright in my vision.
Da Ruis turned but stopped himself. Was he going mad? To leave such a perfect disciple just sitting there in the open for anyone to take was something he could not have imagined just a few scant months ago. Yet, here he was, about to leave a literal Phoenix out and about. That wasnt even mentioning the command to find disciples for the Hu Clan worthy of the monster that was Yin Hu.
He reached into the nest, disturbing the mother and chick, and threw the baby into the Instance. A command from his mind was all that was needed to form a small pocket that would double as a nursery and help develop the little bird. Keeping it well maintained and growing fast.
The plan formed in his mind quickly. Develop it for a few weeks, it and the other three he had discovered, and finally provide it to the Hu Patriarch for greater benefits.
Of course the thought of keeping the Phoenix hidden and for himself did cross his mind, but he had an inkling that would end up failing.
Better not risk potential annihilation when he could instead ingrain himself to the Hu Clan and provide his Hidden Lotus Halls techniques and manuals to the elite disciples they would gather by the hundreds soon enough. Hopefully, he could get his hands on one of the Inner Court Disciples if the precedent set would remain the same throughout the duration of his existence.
Hu Jun, Hu Shui, and Hu Rong were all geniuses.
This Phoenix, and the other three he found, would likely join their ranks soon enough as well.
Da Ruis started to formulate a plan to convince Yin Hu of allowing his Hidden Lotus Hall into the libraries of both courts, selecting for himself a primary disciple as a positive contributing member of the clan, and somehow also figure out how to convince him to provide those legendary cultivation resources to turn his personal disciple into the greatest Hidden Lotus Hall user to have ever roamed the universe.
A difficult task of course, but not impossible considering the nature of who the Hu Patriarch was.
Rummaging for any disciple you could find I see? Typical of old ghosts, a male voice said from above him.
Da Ruis froze. He hadnt sensed the person''s arrival and they didnt sound like Yin Hu either.
Dont worry, old thing. This Hei Gu has come to gather information from you. Then maybe I will kill you after, but until then, you have nothing to be concerned about! the man laughed.
The old ghost turned slowly as his gaze fell upon a lithe figure with black clothing. The tell-tale sign of the Black Flame Dragon Lineage burned bright around his form, the black blade, so common amongst their ilk, rested upon his shoulder, and the suffocating feeling of earned arrogance filled the air around him. Immediately he understood this was no child or disciple, this was likely a high ranking elder.
Oh fuck
Da Ruis remembered the Qi Signature now that he had a second to look.
The tentacled demon he had followed here had been attacked by a member of the Black Flame Dragon Lineage. It had been trying to purge the corrosive flames using the Void Qi before it planned to consume this planet to heal and grow enough power for revenge against a certain arrogant bastard that had crushed it in battle. Right before it had been ambushed by the denizens of this world and killed in its weakest state.
H-He doesnt remember me? Thank God! What the fuck is he doing here?!
Yo? Old thing? You deaf? Hei Gu tilted his head.
Da Ruis straightened his back, hid his fear and worry, and gave the clearly powerful being a stoic expression. A being that likely could have fought the Hu Patriarch at even footing. He mentally cursed his luck, who ended up finding two people at this realm within the same year? What had he done in his forgotten memories to have deserved being punished so blatantly. N-No. How may this old man help you?
Supposedly, theres a protector of this world from all Calamity events. The kit said it had been pressing her down and preventing her from consuming the world.
The kit?! Fuck, fuck fuck! Theres three Calamities now?! No! Four? A protecting guardian? Who the hell is protecting this world? He must have fallen for a trick, those foxes are a wily bunch and very good at surviving difficult situations. As for the Black Flame Dragon Lineage Yeah, I could see him getting played the whole time.
Forgive this old one. Ive been here for centuries and have not encountered any protector.
I assumed so. It was worth a try at least Now die.
Wait! Da Ruis shouted, but he was too late.
Black Flames surged and cleaved a massive clearing, pure Blade Aura made it that much more menacing.
Da Ruis covered his face and waited for death, regretting having run off when he should have stayed next to the Hu Patriarch. Yet, how could he have known that another monster of that calibre would show up
Wait Im not dead?
He opened his eyes and found the flames had vanished before they caused any damage at all. Not a single leaf had been burned.
Hei Gu searched left and right but failed to find the source of his fire vanishing. Show yourself. We can take this fight outside of this world. I intend to consume it and would not be pleased to see it destroyed before then.
Forgive me, Junior, an ancient voice spoke in a tired tone. Too exhausted to speak clearly. This senior needs the old ghost. Much has occurred in my fugue and I need to learn the outcome of my many failures and weaknesses. This old ghost knows just enough, but is not powerful enough to be a threat.
Go find yourself another old man. Better yet, come out of hiding!
The ancient voice laughed, only to cough and hack. Da Ruis heard him spit phlegm. You cannot see through my most average illusions, yet you think you are capable of levying threats? The newer generations are truly arrogant and stuck in their ways. At least until a senior arrives and teaches them the vastness of the universe and the vastness of the highest cultivation realms.
Da Ruis stared at the back and forth, doing his best to make himself look as tiny as possible.
The implications of what was being said made him dizzy.
Though a single thought could not escape him.
Where does Yin Hu stand against all of them? Surely he is capable of fighting against at least the Black Flame Dragon Lineage fool, right?