บท 36: Chapter 36: Gu Worms

"Impossible." Jing Wei shook her head. "There is no way a cultivation technique like that actually exists." She refused to believe a cultivation technique existed where just completing a circle would clear impurity from the body.

It's like someone telling you that the planet revolves around the sun and not the other way around, and then expecting you to believe it.

"Preposterous." Jing Shi scoffed. "It would have been more believable if you told us you found it than that child." He glanced at Wong Yazhu who was sitting crossed legged to the side of a room while reading a thick book with her Sharingan.

They were in Yun Ho's secluded room used for closed door cultivation deep underground, far beneath multiple basement layers, carved into the hill's bedrock. It was spacious with smooth stone walls and a large circular stone platform sat In the center of the room, slightly elevated., where the cultivator would sit in meditation.

A single oil lamp, housed in a brass frame, hung from the low ceiling, casting a dim, flickering light that barely reached the corners of the room, with shadows clinging to the edges, making the space feel larger. The floor was cold, polished stone, with intricate patterns etched around the central platform, and apart from the massive still double door, there was no other entrance or exit.

"If you don't want to try it, then don't." Wong Yazhu shrugged as she flipped the book about 'Gu.'

"She's right," Yun Ho nodded, his eyes serious. "I, for one, did not believe it at first until I tried it for one circle. It might take an hour to complete, but you two will definitely see the result." He held out the scroll in his hand. "I had burned the original copy, but had to rewrite it for you too. Once you comprehend it, we will burn this one."

"A circle completed only after one hour?" Jing Shi asked, not entirely convinced. "Sounds like a low rank cultivation method," He stepped forward, "Nevertheless, I will give it a try."

"I will try it too." His sister nodded, but before Jing Shi could take the scroll, Yun Ho moved it back. "However, once a circle is completed, we are all going to be an Oath Gu." He said.

Gu worms are a type of parasitic spirit beast but unlike spirit others, Gu worms are not born naturally and do not release spirit rings upon death. Instead, they form from unabsorbed spirit rings of a dead spirit beast. Though rare, this occurrence is not as uncommon as spirit bones or dual martial souls. The chance of a Gu worm forming increases with the age of the spirit ring, and it is guaranteed when a ring from a 10,000-year-old or older spirit beast is left unabsorbed.

Once born, Gu worms lose the ability to cultivate and lose all their soul power. However, they inherit a "mysterious" ability similar to the skill of the spirit beast they came from. However, they are unable to use this ability, no matter how powerful due to their lack of soul power, and due to how physically weak they are, Gu Worms can be easily killed by a strong stomp from even a mortal human.

For this reason, they form 'contracts' with Soul Masters or spirit beasts, forming a symbiotic relationship. In this relationship, the Gu resides within the master's Dantian, consuming a small amount of soul power regularly to survive, while the master becomes able to use their ability.

However, the 'beneficial' Gu that grant the soul master a new ability are much, much rarer in the Gu world. As rare as a spirit bone, in fact. The reason is unknown, but most Gu are in the category known as 'Oath Gu.'

These Gu worms offer no direct benefit to the soul master. Instead, they create something similar to a binding contract, requiring the master to vow never to do something. If this vow is broken, the Gu activates and kills its host.

The method of death depends on the spirit beast the Gu came from, ranging from slow poisoning, blood flow obstruction, burning, to even turning the master into dust. However, the strength of the Gu is limited to the power of the spirit ring it originated from. A Gu from a 10,000-year-old ring, for instance, could not kill a Titled Douluo as its strength caps at a Spirit Ancestor level.

No sane person would willingly take on such a deadly and restrictive Gu Worm, knowing that even the smallest misstep or betrayal of the vow could result in their immediate death. The sheer risk and lack of personal benefit make it an unthinkable choice for most cultivators. However, the cruelty of humanity knows no bounds, and throughout history, powerful sects, clans, and rulers have employed Oath Gu worms to ensure unwavering loyalty and obedience from their subordinates.

"You can't be serious." Jing Wei blinked, her face betraying no emotion. "Feeding us an Oath Gu?"

"The four of us are taking it," He gestured to the silent Wong Yazhu. That, in fact, is a lie. However, there is no reason to let them know that she was the creator of this technique. That is a secret between master and student. "This is only to ensure that this technique doesn't leave the four of us."

The silence in the room stretched as Jing Shi and Jing Wei stared at the big man. Finally, Jing Shi shrugged and smiled. "I trust you, Master Yun," he said, his voice calm, as if the entire situation was already settled. "Now, let me see that cultivation method."

"Mine," Wong Yazhu interrupted without looking up from her book.

"Whatever is yours belongs to Master Yun." Jing Shi's smile remained, but his tone turned sharper. "Even your life. So don't go thinking you have anything personal. Keep that in mind, child."

Wong Yazhu scoffed, her eyes still glued to the pages. "Watch your mouth, lil' bro."

That set Jing Shi off. His face twisted in rage, and his voice boomed. "I am forty-seven! Forty years your senior!" He stressed each word as if trying to hammer them into her.

Wong Yazhu casually flipped the page, ignoring him. "Sure, lil' bro."

"Argh!" Jing Shi roared, his fists clenched as he turned to Yun Ho. "I request permission to discipline her!"

Before Yun Ho could respond, a sharp slap landed on the back of Jing Shi's head. "You'll get that permission when you become her teacher like I am," Jing Wei interjected coolly.

Jing Shi rubbed the back of his head, his anger momentarily subdued. "Teacher, huh," he muttered, before a cruel grin spread across his face. "I guess I can be her combat teacher." His laugh grew darker, a malicious glint in his eyes. "Huhuhu…"

Wong Yazhu felt a shiver run down her spine. 'Think I took it too far.' She glanced over the top of her book, meeting his gaze just as the short man licked his lips in a disturbing manner. 'Pedo???'

Yun Ho stepped in, passing the scroll to Jing Wei. "Read it," he said while walking past them. "My student and I will leave the room to you two. Be sure to clean it after you're done expelling your impurities."

Wong Yazhu stood, closing her book and following Yun Ho toward the door as he placed his large hands on the ornate, engraved surface of the door, pressing against a mechanical mechanism. The massive five-meter-tall door groaned as it moved, its gears and mechanisms slowly grinding to life, the thick stone slab creaking open with a heavy rumble.

'Seen this before but...' Wong Yazhu will activate the Byakugan, trying to look at the mechanic used to move the door. However, 'I can't see through the walls or the door.' This was the first thing she couldn't see through since she got the Byakugan.

'Interesting.' She switched back to the Sharingan. 'I wonder what material this is.'

Once the two stepped through the doorway, out of the dimly lit room and into the long, dark passageway, the door behind them closed with a loud thud, sealing the space behind them.

As their footsteps echoed in the corridor, Wong Yazhu quickened her pace to match Yun Ho's stride. "So…." She began, "What's the room wall and doors made off?"

"Why?" Yun Ho glanced at her, "Your eyes couldn't see through it?" Without waiting for her to respond, he said, "But I don't know either. My mother had it built and I never actually asked about it. All I know is that the formation on the platform pulls in more energy from heaven and earth while the walls trap them."

'I guess since my Byakugan uses soul power to see far it wouldn't be able to see through things that trap QI.' Wong Yazhu concluded, "Then why don't you use this room more often? Why cultivate in the bottom of the pool?"

There was a short silence then the older man spoke, "Do you know about elements?"

"Yeah," She nodded, adding, "Though I don't know about the grade."

"The grades are None, Soil, Earth, Sky, Heaven." He quickly explained, "Only a Spirit Douluo and above can tell what your element and your grade is, so I don't know yours."

'Heaven in the five main elements.' She kept it to herself.

"I, for one, had Sky grade in water and the sub-element, lightning," Yun Ho continued, "Though it has now become soil grade, cultivating in the bottom of the pool in a place filled with water element allows me to cultivate at a speed close to 'earth grade.' As for the room," he looked back, "It takes a long time for it to draw in and trap the element of heaven and earth, so cultivating in there everyday would be less effective than the poll. I just wait six months for the room to be filled with the element of heaven and earth before going in to cultivate."

"Make sense," Wong Yazhu nodded

"Too bad the formation can not pick and choose which element it should absorb and traps," Yun Ho sighed, "If it only absorbed water and lightning, it would have been more beneficial to me. Too bad the clan doesn't have that knowledge yet."

"Speaking of clan," Another question came to mind as Wong Yazhu glanced down at the book she was reading. "Did you ever get any beneficial Gu?" she asked.

He shook his head. "Though I was the heir, the clan wanted me to become strong without relying on 'outside power.' They decided they'd grant me a Gu after I became a Spirit Saint." He replied, his voice carrying through the hollow passage. "As you can see, that never happened."

"What about spirit bones?" she asked. 'I think Tang San got a full set?' Her memories were getting clearer from the novel. 'Eight Spider Lance was his first, right?'

"Spirit bones are like spirit rings." Yun Ho folded his arms behind his back. "You need a certain rank, physical, and mental strength to absorb one," he explained. "Even an elder would struggle severely with the bone of a millennium spirit beast. It's reckless to take in a spirit bone before becoming an Ancestor."

"Good to know," Wong Yazhu mumbled. 'Didn't Tang San's third ring give him the bone?' She racked her brain, 'Or am I wrong?'

Yun Ho looked down at her. "Though, seeing as you managed to get a millennium ring for your first ring," he said, "I'm sure you'll be able to absorb one."

'Oh, for real?' Wong Yazhu's eyes lit up mischievously. Hugging her book to her chest, she looked up at him with wide, pleading eyes, her Sharingan shimmering with a pinkish hue. "Would you please get this cute little student a spirit bone?" Her voice took on a cutesy tone, her expression almost comical.

"Hahaha!" Yun Ho burst into laughter. "If I still had the authority to get a spirit bone from the clan, I would've gotten one by now!"

'I tried.' Wong Yazhu dropped her act immediately, returning to her usual tone. "About that." She said, referring to the man's last sentence, "Why is your surname Yun instead of Yu?"

Without much thought, Yun Ho waved dismissively. "Oh, I was caught planning to poison my younger stepbrother, who's now the current heir," he said casually. "Would've worked out if I'd been patient and waited a few days for my father to go into his lifespan-preserving slumber, but my young, dumbass self couldn't wait."

"Damn," Wong Yazhu muttered, half-impressed.

"I told you." Yun Ho chuckled. "I'm a hero to some, a villain to others."

"Good to know," Wong Yazhu said before shifting the subject to something that caught her attention. "So, lifespan-preserving slumber?"

Yun Ho smiled knowingly. "I figured you'd ask about that, but truthfully, I don't know much." He shook his head. "It's a secret technique only the Spirit Hall knows. You have to swear loyalty through a Gu Worm to even use it."

"However," He rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. "As the name suggests, it preserves your lifespan at the age you were when you entered the slumber."

He continued, his voice deepening. "That's why the Spirit Hall has the strength to control the two empires, the Ten Great Clans, the Seven Supreme Sects, and even all the secluded masters in the world." He looked ahead. "Who knows how many Titled Douluos, Super Douluos, or worse—Limit Douluos—are in lifespan-preserving slumber. Piss them off, and suddenly, thousands of ancestors could be floating above your home."

Wong Yazhu shuddered, the weight of his words sinking in. 'That's kind of...' She smiled, "Cool." She couldn't deny that fact. The spirit hall was definitely not this strong in the novel she remembers, seeing how Tang San basically took it out himself. 'Or was it with others?' That part she doesn't remember at all.

But this Spirit Hall. It was a superpower.

"Terrifying," Yun Ho corrected, nodding grimly. "Not 'cool,' utterly terrifying."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Author's Note~~~~~~~~~~

When reading the Douluo Dalu novel, I realized how 'weak' the soul masters were compared to actual cultivators. Especially their higher ranks. Like, Title Douluo wouldn't even be compared to a golden core in other novel. So I decided to give them more way to gain abilities, and one of the main new things is 'Gu Worms.' It kind of fits into the world well, don't it? I hope so.

As for the spirit hall, I like them so I decided to make them way more stronger than they were in the novel. The Lifespan-Preserving Slumber is only one of the ways. Who knows, the mc might even join them.