Chapter 20: Chapter 2354
An uneasy sense of peace prevailed across the Gu world.
With all the recent fights caused by the venerables, all other lifeforms felt like mere backdrop, side characters who are meant to be used as steppingstones.
But who is willing to be the steppingstone of another?
Hei Lou Lan had spent her life in pursuit of revenge against her father, Hei Chang.
In the previous timeline, she had managed to get her revenge, but since Fang Yuan's reset, Hei Lou Lan had been worked to the bone.
Fighting Heavenly Court, managing the Sovereign Immortal Aperture, being rescued by Black Extremity, nurtured by Giant Sun, trained in Reckless Savage's Grotto Heaven, and now she was rallying the North and reestablishing the Hei tribe.
How would she have time to chase her father down?
In fact, she felt that her pursuit of revenge was, comparatively speaking, meaningless.
She was introduced to a much grander stage; a cast and far more interesting world that pushed her to the strength she's at now.
Of course, if she ever had the time, she might go hunt him down, but right now her focus is on the goal she had given herself, catch up to Fang Yuan!
She still bore a slight grudge against him, for the time that she spent as his minion.
But more than revenge she wanted acknowledgment, for him to see her as an equal not a pawn in a game.
She wanted to be recognized and, see her defeated foe crawling at her feet just thinking about it made her…
Hei Lou Lan stopped her thoughts from going too far: "WHAT AM I THINKING!"
After spending so much time in Reckless Savage's world she didn't realize that the Totem Path Killer Move had a hidden synergy with her Great Strength True Martial Physique.
Although it made Hei Lou Lan stronger the unique Dark Capital Strength Tiger Totem seemed to not be fully under her control.
It was even influencing her!
She became more temperamental at times, more ferocious and more savage. Almost like Reckless Savage!
Hei Lou Lan was naturally not stupid and began to wonder if the Dark Capital Strength Totem was one of Reckless Savage's revival plans!
After all, if Venerables like Star Constellation, Spectral Soul, and Giant Sun could revive, what's stopping the rest from coming back.
At this point, Hei Lou Lan was unaware of the events that transpired in the Eastern Sea.
Hei Lou Lan had toured and challenged every prominent Rank 7 in the Northern Plains, she had won every battle except for her fight with the domination immortal, Chu Du.
Though she admitted defeat in the fight it was a rare occurrence where the prestige of parties rose.
Chu Du had suppressed his cultivation the whole time to be at the peak of Rank 7 when he was really a Rank 8 Gu Immortal!
But he had done so as he greatly admired Fairy Black Moon, Hei Lou Lan's alias, for being a person who pushed strength path forward.
Chu Du had always deeply loved Strength Path, and his fight with Hei Lou Lan proved it.
He fought her neither for the fame nor glory but merely as a spar between 2 cultivators of Strength Path.
During the fight, he pushed Hei Lou Lan to use her Totem killer move — Dark Capital Strength Biao.
This move allowed Hei Lou Lan to merge with the totem and achieve a phantom beast from the bound to her like armor.
The form gave her a boost in Strength, Speed, and Defense.
She ruthlessly bashed Chu Du into the ground!
When Chu Du called to stop the fight, it was revealed that Hei Lou Lan had gone berserk and was fighting off instincts like a beast.
This was the point where Chu Du revealed his Rank 8 cultivation, but instead of fighting back, he took Hei Lou Lan's attack head-on to dispel her Killer Move safely.
This caused him to have Hei Lou Lan's fist buried through his left chest.
Though the wound was severe it was not fatal, and he shared his ardent love for Strength Path with Hei Lou Lan who was stunned for such selflessness all in pursuit of passion.
Hei Lou Lan still thinks back to what he said to her: "Your emergence made me really happy. Continue on this path, Black Moon. Revitalize strength path and let it shine gloriously again!"
After amassing a following amongst the Rank 7s Hei Lou Lan decided to return to Longevity Heaven to seek out Giant Sun Immortal Venerable.
"You've done well Hei Lou Lan, but times are changing fast, the world is more chaotic now than ever, we have no time to waste which is why I'm asking this of you to become a Rank 8!"
Hei Lou Lan was shocked at Giant Sun's offer. She knew that the venerable would definitely have methods to make her a Rank 8, but it would cost her future potential strength as it would mean skipping tribulations.
"I know your concerns but have no fear my plans," Giant Sun of course knew what hesitations Hei Lou Lan might have.
The reason I need you to become Rank 8 is that it involves Reckless Savage's, Grotto Heaven.
Hei Lou Lan was intrigued as it was through her trip to the Myriad Beast Fusion Heaven that she could be as strong as she was today.
Her trip there not only got her the Dark Capital Strength Totem but also the legendary Effort Gu!
It was the core that made up the first form of her Totem Killer Move, Biao.
Hei Lou Lan asked Giant Sun: "What do you need me to do in the Myriad Beast Fusion Heaven this time?"
Giant Sun chuckled: "Not in, I want you to annex the Myriad Beast Fusion Heaven!"
Hei Lou Lan was shocked at Giant Sun's words.
"Hehe doesn't worry about not being able to I will naturally be assisting you when the time comes. But for now, let's raise you to Rank 8."
Hei Lou Lan agreed with no hesitation, gaining the aperture of Venerable was sure to boost her strength to pseudo-venerable if not the peak of Rank 8!
Giant Sun could naturally tell that Hei Lou Lan was excited: "But first we need to get your Strength Path attainment up to at least Great Grandmaster."
Before Hei Lou Lan could question.
"Naturally, I have my ways," he said as he opened his Immortal Aperture and pulled out the bit of Primordial Domain that he kept.
Of course, most of the Primordial Domain was still kept by Fang Yuan in Treasure Yellow Heaven.
With this plus Giant Sun's methods, Hei Lou Lan had officially stepped onto the path of becoming the main character.
"Good, now along with my son Light Emperor I will task you both to go and retrieve the Myriad Beast Fusion Heaven."
Light Emperor was still traumatized by the fight between Venerables and was afraid to go out: "Father, why can't you retrieve it wouldn't it be faster."
Giant Sun would of course be faster, but he seriously questioned his son's ability to think.
"Light Emperor, the Lord Giant Sun cannot move from Longevity Heaven, should the other venerables discover his movement what's stopping them from interfering? Or worse attacking the Plains directly."
"Lord Giant Sun is entrusting this important task to our hands," Hei Lou Lan had instantly understood Giant Sun's intention in sending the 2 of them rather than himself.
"Good, it looks like the Hei Tribe will have a competent leader." Giant Sun nodded to himself satisfied with Hei Lou Lan.
Hei Lou Lan hesitated before opening up: "Lord Giant Sun I seem to have encountered an incident in my cultivation that I seek your wisdom on."
"Oh, what's wrong?"
"Well I seem to be developing thoughts and emotions that are very bestial in nature, I have never had such desires before and am wondering if it's because of Reckless Savage."
Reckless Savage! This name was one that was troubling to Giant Sun, not long ago he had been revied through Giant Sun's own use of the Blood Sea but after fighting Fang Yuan he vanished.
It was hard to believe someone that could tie Giant Sun would die to Fang Yuan, either Fang Yuan and he came to an agreement or the scary possibility of Fang Yuan being able to suppress a venerable was emerging in his head.
After all Fang Yuan's Killer Move could give him the power of 2 venerables for a short period of time it is not impossible for him to kill a venerable in an enclosed space 1 on 1.
"How bad is it?" Giant Sun asked in a straightforward manner as he was calculating the possibilities.
Hei Lou Lan picking up on how Giant Sun was feeling decided that she could suppress the matter for now: "It is nothing much for now my Lord, I just need to place more attention and care on myself."
Giant Sun nodded, he then tossed a bag of Rank 8 Immortal Essence Stones and the Killer Move Familial Emotion.
Familial Emotion had helped Giant Sun resist the truthful floating ice and Star Constellation's mental domain.
It was of course easily able to ward off the slight temperament shifts of Hei Lou Lan.
"Many thanks, Lord Giant Sun." Hei Lou Lan cupped her fists and kneeled with one leg.
"Mm go."
With that, Hei Lou Lan and Light Emperor set off to the Myriad Beast Fusion Heaven.
Qi tides and Soul-Beast could be seen roaming around the land.
One man stood solitary amongst the eerie tranquility of Spectral Heaven.
Of course, it was none other than Spectral Soul.
Spectral Soul stood motionless in Spectral Heaven.
Inside Spectral Soul's Aperture.
"Wait you're telling me I can separate the Yin and Yang body into 2 entities?" Spectral Soul was talking to a body of pure light.
It was Heaven's Will!
"Yes, while the complete body holds immense benefits, such as the ability to change forms, when necessary, it also has its drawbacks largely that Yin and Yang by nature have a duality to it and thus, Yin-Yang combination moves often require a partner."
"Thus, if you want a direct increase in battle power you should separate the body," Heaven's Will was explaining to Spectral Soul.
"But isn't the Yin Body only a Rank 8 with Pseudo-Venerable might? How is that going to help if anything it might be a burden."
"Relax, do you not think I know that, first do you know the principle of Yin-and-Yang? For every Yin there is Yang and for every Yang, there is Yin which means you can revive the other as long as one exists."
"In fact, you can revive them and their Vital Immortal Gu and in the case of the Yin body its vital Gu is the Rank 9 Fire Gu!"
"Secondly, the war of 4 Venerables has entered another period of stalemate which means it is time for the subordinates to play. Giant Sun and Fang Yuan are the ones with the strongest forces, and even though Heavenly Court no longer exists, Central Continent is still home to a few powerhouses notably the 10 sects."
Heaven's Will's toned then turned condescending: "You don't even have a single trusted subordinate, within this fight for resources you are bound to lose unless you find someone that doesn't exceed the Venerable level of strength."
Spectral Soul wanted to interject but Heaven's Will cut him off: "But with the powers of Yin-Yang you can create an undying body that has the might of a pseudo-venerable."
"What's the catch?" Spectral Soul asked tapping his foot.
"Hmm?"
"Don't play dumb I know there's a catch."
Heaven's Will sheepishly replied: "There's no catch"
Spectral Soul started, eyebrow raised, at Heaven's Will.
"It's true! There really isn't a catch." Heaven's Will quickly responded
Spectral Soul heaved a sigh of relief
"There are catches."
Spectral Soul's face turned black and his expression was sour.
"How many."
"Just 2."
"What are they."
Heaven's Will recalled: "First, the body that gets revived will need to absorb a ton of Dao Marks to bring them back to their original cultivation level so it's not exactly an endless source of clones."
Spectral breath one sigh of relief, he was expecting at least something like that, an unending stream of pseudo-venerables would be something impossible to produce without cost.
"What's the second catch."
"The body cannot be inhabited by a split soul; it has to be the main soul also I cannot control the body."
This made Spectral Soul angry he roared: "Then how would I be able to use this!"
Heaven's Will did not appreciate being yelled at and beat Spectral Soul's will down with a hammer of Heaven.
"Erhm, like I said although there are some flaws in the body it was entirely necessary to create a being with flaws as the Heavenly Dao will not allow a flawless being. You would have to be a Rank 10 to do that."
Spectral Soul was scratching his head when he realized what Heaven's Will said: "Wait what did you just say about Rank 10."
"Hmm, oh nothing it's beyond your concern anyway."
This greatly annoyed Spectral Soul.
"As I see it there are 2 possible ways of resolving this problem, Option 1, although I cannot control the sub-body, I can control the main, like how it was prior to your awakening. Thus, allowing you to use the Sub body."
Spectral Soul thought about it: "By 'control' you mean subtlety influence and make it act purely by instinct?"
"Yes"
"What's option 2?"
"We nurture a new soul into it, and you take it as your partner!"
Both options made Spectral Soul pissed.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
zulbucks
zulbucks Sorry if this chapter was a little on the explany side after all I've finally brought an old friend of Fang Yuan's. Also, I do apologize for just buffing Hei Lou Lan to a Rank 8 but in the contest between Verneables Rank 7 is really useless and also she was clearly the strongest Rank 7 in the Nothern Plains so I didn't feel like making her have to fight every notable Rank 7 Nothern Plainsmen. Also, the personality shift is more like an ailment rather than a permanent thing so it's not going to affect her, that much.
As always I am very encouraged by all the support that's been given and I will keep doing my best to give this story the ending it deserves. So please do add this book to your collections :) See you all in the next one.
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