He felt a numbness in his neck, which was immediately followed by intense pain, an unbearable agony that no normal human could withstand…
Having experienced it twice before, Xu Qi’an knew that this pain was caused by the Sevenfold Gu further integrating into his body as it matured, stimulating the spinal nerves.
Xu Qi’an sat motionless in a cross-legged position, closed his eyes, calmed his mind, and endured the pain.
After about a quarter of an hour, the pain eased and then faded away. The Sevenfold Gu successfully passed its second stage of maturity and entered the third, its ‘juvenile period’.
Xu Qi’an did not open his eyes, instead examining the changes brought about by the Sevenfold Gu. The ability of the Heaven Gu had remained unchanged, still being the ‘Shifting Constellations’. As the foundation of the Sevenfold Gu, it had already developed to its limit.
As for the ability to peer into fate, Xu Qi’an suspected that the Sevenfold Gu would need to reach the beyond-mortal, or even second rank, before it could be used.
The ‘Berserk’ ability of the Strength Gu and the ‘Poison Body’ of the Poison Gu had not changed, but the Desire Gu had gained a new ability, the absorption of the power of desire from surrounding living beings.
This meant he no longer needed to be intimate every day. As long as he nourished the Desire Gu by absorbing the desires of nearby creatures, his advancement would remain stable, just like how a martial artist cultivated by breathing techniques.
Furthermore, this power of desire could be stockpiled and then released against enemies.
Desire could sometimes be more deadly than poison, as it stimulated bodily functions. While the powerful life force of a martial artist might not fear poison, it would never be able to resist the wild overflow of hormones.
Since the secretion of hormones was not inherently harmful to the body, the body’s defence mechanisms would not resist it.
The growth of the Corpse Gu lay in two aspects:
First, the number and grade of corpses it could control both increased; second, the master’s will could descend upon a corpse, acting as a clone and controlling their abilities.
The Dark Gu also underwent a transformation. At this stage, its abilities had become much more balanced. The shadow-jumping range had enlarged to the extent that ‘wherever the eye could see, one could jump’.
Moreover, the number of people it could carry had increased from one to four.
The time spent transformed into a shadow had also been extended. As long as Xu Qi’an wished, he could remain hidden in a shadow, emerging only when his stamina ran out.
In terms of attack, the Dark Gu had gained a new move called ‘Blindness’.
It cast a shadow that blinded the enemy’s five senses, rendering them ‘blind’. However, it could not suppress the danger sense of a martial artist.
For defence, the Dark Gu also gained a new ability called ‘Shadow’.
Simply put, the body could become an intangible, insubstantial shadow, causing enemy attacks to miss.
Finally, there was the Heart Gu. Having reached his current stage, Xu Qi’an finally understood why the Heart Gu was also known as the Beastmaster Gu.
The mother Gu of the Heart Gu acted like a central processor, perfectly coordinating and commanding armies made up of beasts. There might be generals who knew more about military tactics, but no army in the world could outmatch a beyond-mortal Heart Gu master’s coordination.
Additionally, the Heart Gu could influence the minds of low-intelligence creatures, including, but not limited to, humans, animals, and spirit artifacts.
The greater the intelligence, the harder it was for the Heart Gu to control them. Conversely, low intelligence made control easier.
However, this was not absolute. High-intelligence beings suppressed by the Heart Gu over a long period would regress, becoming low-intelligence beings who could never again break free from the Heart Gu master’s control.
This reminded Xu Qi’an of those forest regions filled with the Heart Gu’s power, where all creatures, no matter how smart or dumb, became dead soldiers who only knew how to obey.
But Heart Gu masters had a fatal weakness: their individual combat strength was too low, and they lacked enough life-preserving skills.
The only ones who can match a Heart Gu master on the battlefield would be a Warlock. I really wonder how Duke Wei won the battle of Shanhai Pass back then. Hm, the only method I can think of to counteract corpse-controlling Warlocks and Heart Gu masters is artillery.
The truth is whatever lies in bombardment range.
Filled with emotion, Xu Qi’an opened his eyes. His pupils suddenly contracted, his back muscles tensed, and he looked like a leopard ready to pounce.
Just twenty feet in front of him stood a yellow-haired monkey, gazing at him gently.
Since he sensed no hostility, Xu Qi’an suppressed his urge to strike, but he did not relax his guard completely, as the shaman clans just happened to have ways to counteract a martial artist’s danger sense.
Shifting Constellations!
“I”ve come to check on you.”
The yellow-haired monkey spoke human words in a kindly, grandmotherly voice.
“You are…” Xu Qi’an felt a ripple in his heart, a name surfacing in his mind.
“The children call me Heaven Gu Grandma,” said the yellow-haired monkey with a smile.
So it really is her… Xu Qi’an remembered Lina had told him that it was this very Heaven Gu Grandma who had entrusted the Sevenfold Gu to her that day and asked her to bring it to the capital in search of a fated one.
The wife of the old Heaven Gu man.
“They say that the Heaven Gu can see into the future, and now I have witnessed it.”
Xu Qi’an did not lower his guard, and said calmly, “Grandma, your extraordinary foresight has even foreseen that I would come to the Southern Marches and that I would be here.”
The yellow-haired monkey chuckled, her tone peaceful and kind,
“No, it was Longtu who told me. It wasn”t until Lina returned to the clan that I learnt you were in the Southern Marches.
“There are many limits to peering into the future, it cannot be done anytime, anywhere. Otherwise, during the Battle of Shanhai Pass, the old man would not have lost. Hm, perhaps it was because the Jianzheng shielded Heaven’s secrets, preventing him from seeing the outcome. This trick also works on Warlocks.
“They say Wei Yuan was an exceptionally talented commander, and that’s true, but the Jianzheng of your Central Plains has likely done even more behind the scenes.”
Xu Qi’an nodded, ‘since Grandma has come to see me personally, what is your purpose?”
The yellow-haired monkey continued slowly,
“You must have many questions for me, and I also have things to tell you.
“But this time, I”m here to give you a warning. Just now, Xu Pingfeng’s disciple came to see me.
“He is persuading all the leaders of the shaman clans to ally with the rebel army of Yunzhou, to launch a joint attack on the Great Feng and split up the Central Plains.”
Shit… Xu Qi’an’s expression darkened, “Did the leaders agree?”
The yellow-haired monkey nodded,
“The shaman clans lost the Battle of Shanhai Pass twenty-one years ago, and the clans haven’t accepted it. So many people died. That fire has burned for twenty years and is bound to erupt sooner or later.”
Xu Qi’an, with some knowledge of history from his past life, nodded. Leaving aside one’s standpoint, it was normal for the defeated party to harbour resentment and seek revenge.
“Longtu did not agree, but if the situation in the war turns unfavourable and the shaman clans are in danger, the Strength Gu tribe would never sit by and do nothing, and nor would the Heaven Gu tribe.”
“I understand your difficulties, Grandma.”
The yellow-haired monkey nodded gently, and continued,
“The Sevenfold Gu was the old man’s contingency plan. If Xu Pingfeng’s rebellion fails, he cannot keep his promise, and so the statue of the Confucian Sage cannot be repaired.
“So he left the Sevenfold Gu behind, to extend this cause and effect.
“But what I want to say is that if Xu Pingfeng’s uprising succeeds, then he must bear this cause and effect, help the Southern Marches establish a country, cede two provinces of land, use the means of a first rank Arcanist to unite the shaman clans” fortune and repair the Sage’s statue.
“If that happens, then the Gu God will remain asleep.
“From my standpoint, I really have no reason to refuse.”
Xu Qi’an fell silent.
“Right now, a few youngsters are lying in wait for you in the territory of the Strength Gu Tribe, planning to ambush and kill you. If you do not wish to die, then leave quickly. After some time, I will send Lina to find you. Whatever you want to ask, whatever you want to know, I will pass it on to you through Lina.”
Heaven Gu Grandma manipulated the yellow-haired monkey as she spoke.
Seems like the shaman clans have made up their mind to send troops against the Great Feng. The resentment within the tribes had been building up for a long time, even Heaven Gu Grandma is not willing to go against the tide. Moreover, Xu Pingfeng’s promise is to seal the Gu God, which is a condition the shaman clans simply could not refuse… Xu Qi’an frowned:
“I understand that the shaman clans want to march against the Great Feng.
“The outcome will either be the destruction of the Great Feng, dividing up the Central Plains, or the shaman clans having their meagre fortune scattered and never recovering, forced into submission forever.
“Grandma, is there really no way to compromise?”
Heaven Gu Grandma shook her head.
… Xu Qi’an fell silent for a while, then suddenly remembered something and said:
“By the way, I have a magical artefact here, which I snatched from Xu Pingfeng.”
He reached into his robes, tapped lightly on the Earth Book fragment, and took out a string of bracelets adorned with copper pieces, colourful stones, jade pendants, and other items, all in the style of the Southern Marches.
Heaven Gu Grandma could no longer look away from the bracelet. Her eyes were filled with a complex mix of sadness, joy, and longing.
“Grandma, think about it once more.”
Said Xu Qi’an.
Heaven Gu Grandma pondered for a moment, then changed her mind and said:
“There is, of course, a way.
“Let me first tell you about the Battle of Shanhai Pass all those years ago, so that you will understand why the shaman clans hold such enmity towards the Great Feng.
“The Buddhist sect dealt mainly with the southern yao who hoped to revive their nation, as well as the northern barbarians and yao. The Great Feng faced the Church of the Warlock God, which bore a grudge against Emperor Gaozu, as well as our shaman clans.
“Among the seven clans, Youshi of the Corpse Gu clan hated the Great Feng the most, because his father died under Wei Yuan’s Seven-day Killing Formation. Next comes the Desire Gu clan, back then the Great Feng army plundered more than half their women, crippled their cultivation, and sent them to various Jiaofangsi.
“The Great Feng army suffered heavy losses at the hands of the Poison Gu clan, so in his wrath, Wei Yuan personally led thirty thousand cavalry on a thousand-li raid, completely wiping out the warriors of the Poison Gu clan and capturing five thousand of their people to be buried alive.
“To this day, the Poison Gu clan still has the smallest population among the seven clans. However, precisely because their clan chief, elders, and elite were nearly wiped out that year, Baji was able to rise above the rest and become their leader.
“He himself bears no great hatred towards the Great Feng, and the Poison Gu clan, relying on the South’s rich supply of poisonous herbs and creatures, has no ambition for the Central Plains. He can just about be considered neutral. But his attitude does not determine that of his clansmen.
“The Poison Gu clan still resents the Great Feng to this day.
“The Heart Gu, Dark Gu, and Strength Gu clans do not bear a hatred as deep as an ocean towards the Great Feng, but they certainly do not view them favourably.
“As for my own Heaven Gu clan, hatred cannot sway the wisdom of Heaven Gu, but the Gu God has always been a matter of great concern to my clan. Whoever can seal the Gu God shall win our support.”
Duke Wei had been ruthless in those years, truly the kind of person who would cut his way from East Street to West Street without so much as blinking… Xu Qi’an’s brow knitted tightly.
With shaman clans like this, there was simply no way for them to become the Great Feng’s allies.
Heaven Gu Grandma smiled:
“I have said all that needs to be said. How you choose to deal with the situation, is up to you.”
With that, she beckoned, drew the bracelet to her, carefully put it on her wrist, and the yellow-haired monkey vanished into the distance.
…
Facing Youshi’s questioning, the great elder tossed aside his walking stick, stuck out his chest to display his bulging muscles, and snorted coldly:
“Xu Qi’an is a friend of the Strength Gu tribe.”
In a hoarse voice, Youshi said:
“He is also an enemy of the shaman clans. We won”t fight on the Strength Gu tribe’s territory. But if you dare to interfere, don”t blame me for being harsh.”
Several other elders also threw down their canes and puffed out their muscular chests:
“Looking for a fight? Bring it on!”
Chunyan of the Heart Gu clan rolled her eyes and snapped irritably:
“Don”t you know what kind of temper these muscle-bound wild apes have? They”ll play themselves to death if you rile them up!”
The Strength Gu tribesmen were the most unable to resist provocation. Once they got worked up, they would not recognise even their own kin.
Luanyu said with a gentle smile:
“Elders, there’s no need to bother with him. The shaman clans are all branches of the same tree, and it’s understandable that the Strength Gu clan cannot get involved.
“In a moment, just stand by and watch. Don”t worry, I will spare his life.”
Only then did the six elders” expressions ease, and they grunted:
“If you want to make trouble for Xu Qi’an, that’s your business, but for now, get off the Strength Gu tribe’s land. So long as he remains here, you shall not be allowed to run wild.”
They still hoped to save Xu Qi’an’s life.
With the chieftains of the shaman clans all out in force, even if Longtu did not intervene, Xu Qi’an could not possibly handle so many experts.
He may have killed a Vajra, but even an Arhat would not dare to come alone to wage war with the shaman clans.
And if Xu Qi’an died here, little Xu Lingyin was sure to resent them in the future.
Heart Gu Master Chunyan’s ears twitched slightly. After listening for a while, she whispered:
“He is not in the Strength Gu clan. Not long ago, he left with the Strength Gu clan’s elders and has not returned.”
She had communicated with the snakes, insects, rats, and birds in the area, gathering intelligence from them.
It was worth noting that the animals near the Strength Gu clan’s territory were exceedingly scarce.
As for the snakes and the like, it was only because they were so good at hiding that they had not yet been driven to extinction by the local tribesmen.
“Where has he gone?”
Youshi asked in a low voice.
“I don”t know.” Chunyan shook her head.
Just then, her bright apricot-shaped eyes suddenly lit up as she turned her head to look towards the edge of the plain:
“He’s back.”
Without hesitation, the Dark Gu chief summoned a shadow that enveloped the chieftains, whisking them away under the shade of the trees.
The great elder and the others” faces changed dramatically and, straining their eyes, they saw a young man in azure robes standing at the edge of the plain, rooted to the spot, as if waiting.
“Shit, why does he have to come back right now.”
The great elder cursed furiously.
Comments for this chapter. You will need a GitHub account. Please follow all terms and conditions of GitHub issues and maintain etiquette in the comments. Cookies are required for this functionality.
If you want to talk with other readers about Nightwatchers (or other cultivation type books) you can join our cultivation groupreading discord server!
I also have a Kofi, which for legal reasons is definitely for supporting my digital art only (promise!): ko-fi.com/yanxin ... plus I guess server space isn't free, and I don't want to put ads/trackers... ever, so thank you if you do!