Reverend Rizzsanity: 123

Title: Rekindled Hope

October 25.

The wrinkled white brows furrowed in concentration as sweat pooled in slit-like crevices before sliding down the Old Gu Master’s nose and getting caught by a layer of thick, whitened mustache and beard. The once damp and stale cave now teemed with a fraction of the Legendary River of Time.

Though it was like water, it filled the cave in a purplish shroud, and physical contact entailed sudden aging and eventual death.

He was Lord Desolate.

Seated cross-legged, Lord Desolate was surrounded by a layer of off-white dome separating him from the River of Time. One mistake was all that it would take to kill him.

But he wasn’t the one maintaining the flow of the River of Time or the formation protecting him.

‘River of Time is a Legendary Location like the Space Cave and the Door of Life and Death, which expresses itself in the Gu World by allowing everyone to exist and experience time itself. The Gu World would be nothing but an unmoved scenery without Time blowing a breath of change within every living being.’

‘A Gu Immortal’s Blessed Land boasts time dilation. It is also due to their ability to house a branching River of Time which flows at a different pace than the one in Gu World.’

Lord Desolate was intimate with a Gu Immortal’s matter. But such knowledge became a burden, for he understood time was of a literal essence here!

If the River of Time branches could exist in the Blessed Land, they could also appear in unique spots within the Gu World.

Some acted as entrances to the Legendary Location itself!

However, the one housed under the Jia Clan was tweaked for a singular purpose—Time Dilation.

But it didn’t act like a Blessed Land.

In fact, it was the opposite.

Five days in the outside world meant one day inside the cave. So, Lord Desolate had, quite literally, less time than his pursuers once Gu Yue Fang Zheng revealed his crimes.

But panic achieved nothing.

‘This Inheritance is beyond my expectations. No wonder the Jia Clan disappeared under mysterious circumstances in my first life.’

In addition to acting as Lord Desolate’s test and protective force, the River of Time in the cave also shrouded another fact unknown to others.

Ahead of Lord Desolate was a fist-sized dark entrance extending into nothingness. It was the node from which the tributary of the River of Time filled the cave. Around the entrance was another circular formation rotating clockwise. And from within the entrance emerged a soul-stirring aura…

Rank 6.

Lord Desolate was certain!

How could he ignore such treasure and run?

Being a Rank 5 Gu Master, he had a definite fighting chance!

‘Everything would be worth it,’ Lord Desolate controlled the Gu Worms presented in the test. Several light globes floated around him and entered the entrance at an appropriate time. ‘I changed my plans after refining Zie Qi. The Rank 5 One More Day Gu from Drifting Keng’s Inheritance is a life-saving treasure for the inheritors of the Extreme Physiques.’

‘It’s already 25th October… sigh. Although I might get another Immortal Gu, it doesn’t compare to a Blessed Land and that Legendary Location. But it compensates for the treasure held within San Cha Mountain.’

‘Even if there wasn’t an Immortal Gu, the combination of an Extreme Physique with the Rank 5 One More Day Gu is already worth it.’

Lord Desolate swiftly regathered his thoughts and focused on the formation. He needed to stop the unceasing yet contained flow of the River of Time by controlling the formation around it. He also needed to extract the hidden Immortal Gu before considering how to hide its aura from others.

As for Fang Zheng using animals to try and expend the effects of the River of Time…

Well, it was an astute plan. However, Fang Zheng wasn’t experienced with the Time Path or possessed crucial clues about the formation and the Inheritance. How could anyone expect an Immortal to create a contained tributary of Time under the Jia Clan?

Still, the odds were stacked against Lord Desolate.

After all, he had less time.

Lord Desolate also needed to plan his escape since he still didn’t understand how Fang Zheng found such damning clues and evidence in his part of assassinating Flaming Beard Keng. After all, he knew about ‘a’ future and used the Divine Thief’s methods, which were exposed during the Chaotic War of the Grand Era, to hide his tracks.

Such exposure was an inconceivable thought and rightfully surprised Lord Desolate.

*Tsss*

One of the light orbs touched the formation and suddenly combusted with a soft noise.

‘Hm?’ Lord Desolate’s eyes widened. How could it happen? He didn’t do anything wrong!

Although not a Master in the Formation Path, Lord Desolate had already studied the peculiar formation for months and was confident in extracting the treasure. He would have done so after preparing an escape path had it not been for Fang Zheng forcing his hand.

The sudden change caused a chain reaction as the once-contained flow of the River of Time turned chaotic. Visible tides formed within the purple shroud filling the cave. The pressure and erosion on the protection around Lord Desolate increased exponentially, and the cave around him began to show signs of rapid aging!

‘Damn it!’

The Old Gu Master hissed under his breath and continued without losing his nerve.

One mistake wasn’t enough to obstruct his path!

The thick layer of protection thinned rapidly. A lesser Gu Master would have already made another mistake under such deadly pressure. However, Lord Desolate controlled the last of Gu Worms and used them to attack the formation accurately.

*Tuc*

*Tuc*

*Tuc*

Three consecutive noises echoed within Lord Desolate’s protection as the formation around the node of the River of Time came to a slow stop before accelerating anti-clockwise.

Lord Desolate sensed the flow of the River of Time pause.

‘Good. It’s the safe period.’

He licked his dry lips, not realizing how parched he’d been through the ordeal.

Anticipation drummed in his chest as Lord Desolate carefully slipped his hand into the fist-sized hole. It was a weird sensation. While it felt like touching water, it was similar to phasing the hand through a slightly more dense gas.

Lord Desolate continued to shove his hand further into the very fabric of Time, trying to reach the Immortal Gu he’d been sensing.

It was so close!

However, what Lord Desolate felt wasn’t the touch of a strange Gu Worm.

It was a formless pull after he’d reached deep enough.

His eyes widened as he noticed something—

<<<>>>

“Oh, no!”

Yan Jun gulped. Everyone noticed it too late since they spent more time distancing themselves from the crazed Immortal, committing a killing spree without any regard or remorse!

*Swish*

*Swish*

*Swish*

A layer of gentle green gales collected within the interior border of the Blessed Land and grew fiercer every second.

“These are…” Tie Ruo Nan collapsed on her knees with a hopeless expression. A sense of weakness and helplessness surged in her chest.

‘I’m sorry, Father… I disappointed you and failed still.’

“Well, it’s depressing for a Wind Path Gu Master like me to die to wind itself,” Wu Lan Shan chuckled lightheartedly before glancing at the Wind Qilin. “I’ll be going ahead of you, Cousin.”

Wu Ji grew quiet before whispering.

“Don’t lose hope. There is still a way. Collect every survivor, and don’t get near that Crazy Bastard.”

Wu Lan Shan blinked before nodding.

The Wind Sword was swift and efficient, soon gathering all the elites and the Rank 3 fodder she found along the way.

Ku Mo and Wu Gui were already dead. Meanwhile, Wu Lan Shan succeeded in gathering Tie Mu Bai, Wang Xiao, Chou Jiu, and an injured Mo Wu Tian, whose arrival surprised everyone. There were also the surviving Rank 4 Gu Masters.

“You have a way out of this predicament, Empress?” Yan Jun began. “Not even my Phantom Path Gu Worms can phase through those Winds of Assimilation!”

Winds of Assimilation!

Everyone’s heart shuddered at the thought of facing those terrible winds.

As the name suggested, Blessed Land was the Land of Blessing and Fortune. However, everything under Heaven was fair, and misfortune existed for every fortune.

The Winds of Assimilation were the Blessed Land’s predicament. They blew fiercely when it reached the end of its lifespan. These winds broke everything apart into the purest essence of Heaven and Earth!

It was not something even most Immortals dared face, much less mortals.

Tie Ruo Nan listened intently. Tear streaks were evident on her face as she watched Shang Mi Zhu kill Tie Ba Xiu and other Tie Clansmen while she escaped.

She had also lost hope!

However, the barest flicker of rekindled hope was enough for everyone to unite their strength.

“She isn’t planning to escape the Blessed Land,” Mo Wu Tian’s cold snort echoed as the man smirked. “Isn’t that right, O’ Daring Empress?”

Chou Jiu gasped.

“You couldn’t be planning that! Are you crazy?!”

Tie Mu Bai blinked and realized Wu Ji’s plan. He couldn’t help but voice his acceptance.

“No, Empress Wu Ji’s plan is sound despite being insane. It is the only option… failure or not doing anything results in the same end.”

“So?” Wang Xiao allowed others to understand what the higher-ups implied. “How do you kill an Immortal for their Blessed Land?”

Yan Jun and other Rank 4 Gu Masters’ eyes popped open as Wu Ji appeared thoughtful. Shock and fear masked their features.

“There is a way,” Yan Jun suddenly uttered. He glanced at Mo Wu Tian and nodded. “We can ally with someone capable enough to give us a fighting chance. Even if we fail, the Gu Immortal is the most threatening to that individual, and they would have no choice but to help.”

“What are you talking about?” Wu Ji inquired.

*Splat*

Yan Jun’s head suddenly exploded before he could say anything. Blood and brain matter splattered everywhere as Mo Wu Tian grunted. He was nearest to Yan Jun and was caught unprepared by the sudden assault as one of the unfortunate bone shards pierced his left eye.

“Hehehe~! What did that brat mean? Of course! The Land Spirit is alive! Hahahaha! How daring! When did worms ever challenge dragons?”

Everyone fearfully glanced at Shang Mi Zhu floating in the distance.

“How foolish,” Shang Mi Zhu grinned. “But it’s so enjoyable! Hahaha, now I understand those Demonic Gu Masters I used to put down before I became an Immortal. No wonder! Lust, Death, Fear, and Despair are so pleasant!”

The Immortal spread his arms wide open while cackling like a maniac!

*BAM*

An invisible strength qi suddenly smashed into Shang Mi Zhu with enough force to send him flying, and a pained scream echoed through his departure.

‘Eh?’

Tie Mu Bai instantly glanced at the quiet and somber Wind Qilin.

“What a day I chose to bluff and defeat others in one fell swoop,” uttered the Wind Qilin in a surprisingly feminine yet regal voice. It was nothing compared to its previous gruff snarls and howls.

Wu Lan Shan’s eyes widened, not out of surprise but despair. “No,” she whispered. “What are you doing here?”

The Qilin’s body steadily condensed. Its tough scales retreated into soft fabric and pale skin. The sharp claws reverted into human-like limbs. However, each flex of those limbs revealed tense yet flexible muscles. Its muzzle shrank and morphed into a human face—a disfigured one with pitch-black hair cascading down upon the woman’s plump proportions.

It was Empress Wu Ji.

“So,” Tie Mu Bai chuckled bitterly. “You, indeed, are the most talented Gu Master in our generation. I never expected you to possess such Killer Moves.”

“What are you doing here?!”

Wu Lan Shan suddenly grabbed Wu Ji’s shoulders. “You shouldn’t be here, Cousin! Quick, use the token! Leave!”

“You have a way to leave?” Mo Wu Tian asked sharply, his lone eye oozing bloodlust.

Wu Ji chuckled freely and patted Lan Shan’s shoulder.

“Silly Cousin… how will I be the Empress if I let down the only person who supported me?” Warmth oozed from her gaze as her hand reached for Lan Shan’s hair. “I’m not here to die. I’m Wu Ji!”

Strength Qi seeped from her body and instantly attacked Mo Wu Tian, who quickly avoided it and stepped back.

“And I have survived ordeals worse than a maddened Gu Immortal!” The woman hissed before smiling at Wu Lan Shan.

“You better name your first daughter after me, you annoying bitch.”

“Wait! Don’t—”

*Flick*

Wind Sword suddenly disappeared as Tie Mu Bai issued a sigh. However, he couldn’t help but admire Wu Ji’s resolve.

“Everyone!” Wu Ji continued. “What you saw was the only Teleportation Killer Move left on me by the Wu Clan’s Supreme Elder!”

She took a deep breath.

The green Winds of Assimilation thickened and began to spread everywhere as they ate the Blessed Land.

“We will fight!” She issued proudly. “And we will win!”

“How?!” Chou Jiu snapped. “How will we win? Have you lost your mind? We are nothing compared to a Gu Immortal!”

“How?” Wu Ji smirked coldly. “Old Fool! O’ Demons and Righteous alike! We will win because we MUST!”

She declared in a loud voice. “I have a secret method. Just one shot! All I need is one proper opening with that Immortal’s defenses entirely reduced to nothing. You saw my previous attack, did you not?”

“How many of us will survive?” One of the Rank 4 Gu Masters whispered under his breath.

“Maybe I will be the first to die,” Wu Ji smiled. “Oh, look. He’s back.”

Everyone sighed as they noticed Shang Mi Zhu emerge from the rapidly condensing horizon.

“You wasted your escape on your Cousin. I DO hope you’re the first to die,” Mo Wu Tian suddenly chuckled.

“A sharp tongue for a Junior,” Wu Ji walked ahead, spearheading the group. “I hope you live up to your reputation as the Demonic Faction’s rising talent, pipsqueak.”

“How childish,” Tie Mu Bai snorted as the Liquid Metal Gu covered him.

“I should have stayed on my Mountain,” Wang Xiao huffed.

“I…” Chou Jiu grew speechless before grunting exhaustingly. “I’ll do my best to heal everyone. But you all owe me a life afterward.”

Everyone began to psyche themselves for their upcoming predicament in the form of a furiously panting Shang Mi Zhu.

Tie Ruo Nan couldn’t help but feel amazed at the sight.

How could anyone not feel an overwhelming rush of excitement and fear when facing death in such a manner?!

She knew it.

Vengeance and hatred aside…

One true strike… Just one attack!

She’d make her father proud if she managed to land one clean hit before dying.

After all, everyone, including Tie Ruo Nan, understood one grim fact.

Death was inevitable.

<<<>>>

Indeed.

Since it was inevitable, Lord Desolate felt no fear or aversion but continued to struggle regardless with all his might as the formless pull continued to suck him within the node.

The once calm shroud of the River of Time suddenly began to flow backward into the node as Lord Desolate noticed his features turning young rapidly.

However, no attack could cut his arm off.

Every time Lord Desolate attacked, the distorting swirl of the River of Time would neutralize all of it as his flesh continued to turn into wiry strings before being sucked into the shortening hole.

Surprisingly, Lord Desolate didn’t feel pain. So, he was further cautious of the trap.

It must be a trap.

Whatever this Inheritance was, Lord Desolate couldn’t allow it to whisk him away!

But bad news always came in threes.

Two Gu Masters entered the cave the second the River of Time flowed back into the node. Due to the River of Time's previous effects on the cave, a rotten smell filled the interior.

“Stop right there, Lord Desolate!” the unknown Gu Master spoke before freezing in shock.

Fang Zheng wasn’t any better.

Stuck into the node and protected by the formation, Lord Desolate didn’t turn to face them; instead, the right portion of his profile was exposed.

If one took the right portion of Lord Desolate’s face and pasted it on Fang Zheng’s bark-covered right features…

They would fit.

A twin.

“Elder Brother… Fang Yuan,” Fang Zheng whispered in a daze.

***

Alternate Title: Wu Ji’s Arc AF; Lord Desolate’s Dilemma; Surrounded; Everyone’s MC Moment Against Shang Mi Zhu; A Death Planned By Heaven and Earth (And The Author); October 25: Lo Jik Dead, Feng Jin Huang Based, And Fang Yuan Glazed; The Time Path Trap; Pull; Wu Ji’s Smartness; Wu Ji’s So Smart That She’s Dead; Wu Ji While Planning Everything: What Could Go Wrong?; The Land Spirit?; The Winds of Assimilation; The Crazed; Sudden Attack; An Attack That Pushed An Immortal Away; Wu Ji’s Resolve; An Empress’ Kindness; Wu Ji Books Wu Lan Shan’s First Daughter; A Sister’s Love; The Bold And The Proud; Another Time Travel Incident?; Exposed; The Exposure Arc; No Hint Of Lo Jik; Protected And Confined; The Crazy Plan; Wu Ji: Run? Why Would I Run When I Can Kill You?; Muscle Mommy Dominance; The Gu World’s Goth Mommy Voldemort

***

THE MEME