Monday, May 25, 675, 11:34 PM.
Temperature and humidity had risen significantly, causing some students to develop skin sores. The mana-saturated humidity affected even those with supernatural constitutions; regardless of their individual strength, students were impacted if exposed for prolonged periods.
Furthermore, certain areas were completely devoid of *qi*, leading to severe "poisoning" among those who practiced *qi* refinement or relied on *qi* as their primary power system.
Even users of mana, *ki*, and *Gu* were not spared; they suffered from contamination within their bodies and energy centers.
For *Gu* masters, both their *dantian*—or "sea of energy"—and the *Gu* themselves became poisoned. They found themselves unable to utilize *Gu* in regions lacking a sufficient concentration of *qi* in the atmosphere. This resulted in the death of certain types of *Gu* and the elimination of several students who relied on *Gu* as their primary power system.
The impact extended beyond these groups to the rest of the student body, bringing the total number of eliminated candidates to 55.
As for *Kono* users, they are categorized into three types:
Type I: Those who use mana as their primary power system, with *qi* and *ki* serving as secondary systems—or vice versa.
Type II: Those who use *qi* and mana as their primary power systems, with *ki* as a secondary system—or vice versa.
Type III: Those who utilize all three—mana, *qi*, and *ki*—as primary power systems. This type is extremely rare—accounting for no more than 0.001%—and those who possess it are truly exceptional; they are capable of enduring the immense strain that arises from simultaneously engaging their mental, physical, and spiritual systems.
Meanwhile, the "Origin Tree Gu" stood tall at the heart of Jigwa Island, its branches and roots reaching out like one of the final vestiges of a forgotten era—an age long buried in the depths of oblivion.
Tom sat in the shadow of one of the Origin Tree Gu's roots, fast asleep, yet his features bore an expression of profound sorrow.
He opened his eyes—which had taken on the shape of Yin and Yang symbols—and leaned back against the tree root, which was as thick as an average-sized car.
"Origin Tree Gu... I don't know whether to thank you or curse you."
Tom murmured in a quiet, deeply sorrowful tone, recalling the events that had unfolded in this very place millions of years ago.
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Zhao Li and Alessandra stood on one of the western beaches of Jigwa Island, surrounded by eleven mangled corpses. Among them lay the bodies of Zhao Li's ten sons—the ten emperors—along with the body of Beatrice, the daughter Alessandra had discovered during one of her journeys and chosen to raise as her own.
A weary, heavy sigh escaped Alessandra's lips. Her life force was nearly spent; she stood on the precipice of death, consumed by grief as she gazed at the mutilated remains of Beatrice—a young woman who appeared to be in her twenties. Then, she turned her gaze toward Zhao Li, who had remained silent, not uttering a single word.
In a calm, serious tone, she spoke:
"Zhao Li, we must reach the Origin Tree Gu quickly."
Zhao Li fixed his eyes on Alessandra for a few seconds before shifting them back to the Tree of Existence, his expression vacant.
Then, in a cold tone, he said:
"Let's go. We don't have much time left to live, anyway."
"Very well."
Zhao Li and Alessandra moved with great speed toward the Origin Tree Gu, striving to survive.
The Origin Tree Gu was not a longevity-type Gu; rather, it was a Gu capable of multiplying entities and creating souls.
It was an Alpha-level Gu, formed from the fusion of four Rank 9 Gu: the Time Gu, the Life Gu, the Death Gu, and the Fate Gu.
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Tom cast his gaze toward the Origin Tree Gu, then brushed off the root he had been leaning against moments earlier, a cold, indifferent smile appearing on his face.
"Time is like a bridge connecting the gateway of death to the gateway of life. The paths of origin may differ, but the destination is the same: annihilation and death."
"All my children met gruesome ends. Heaven shows no mercy to anyone—not even to those it created itself."
Tom spoke in a calm tone, then looked up toward the summit of the Origin Tree Gu, his expression remaining as cold as before.
With that, he began to leap between the tree's roots with remarkable fluidity, while memories of the past gradually returned to him. ...........
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As Alessandra and Zhao Li sprinted forward, they inadvertently roused the "Gu of Creation" from a deep slumber that had lasted for hundreds of years.
Irritated at being awakened from his long rest, the Gu of Creation fixed his gaze upon Alessandra and Zhao Li.
"You wretched scoundrels! You have disturbed my slumber—now you shall face the consequences! I am the Gu of Creation!"
With a wave, the Gu of Creation conjured portals and dungeons teeming with high-level monsters, summoning them from unknown origins.
He snorted in displeasure, looking toward the spot where Alessandra and Zhao Li had been—only to find they had vanished from his sight just moments before.
Then, in a malicious tone, he declared:
"You will learn never to disturb the Gu of Creation!"
Meanwhile, Alessandra and Zhao Li were making their way toward the center of Jigwa Island, their faces etched with clear signs of anxiety.
Suddenly, brightly colored portals began to materialize out of thin air.
Yet, the pair paid them no mind; their focus remained entirely on the "Gu of the Origin Tree." This artifact held the power to populate the entire fantasy world with humans, allowing the two of them to be reincarnated time and again—so long as their lineage endured and their blood continued to flow through the veins of their descendants.
Indeed, every time Zhao Li and Alessandra met their end, they would simply be reincarnated once more. As they ran, a set of jaws filled with sharp teeth lunged toward Alessandra's head, but she tore the wolf to shreds without the slightest effort.
They continued on their way, paying no mind to the beast that had attacked them—assuming it was merely a hungry creature that had sought to kill them.
Yet, after hours of running, they realized they were no longer able to fly; they had grown older, though this was not apparent in their appearance.Their internal energy was waning with every passing second, and they needed to conserve every remaining drop to activate the Origin Tree Gu.
Then, they realized something was amiss.
Beasts of varying power levels were attacking them relentlessly, and as they fought, the creatures would drop all sorts of items.
Upon grasping what was happening, Zhao Li and Alessandra gritted their teeth in intense fury and frustration.
"Someone created these dungeons and portals specifically to slow us down! Who would dare do such a thing?!"
Enraged, Alessandra tore through the beasts, venting the fury that had taken root in her heart.
She then turned her gaze toward Zhao Li, whose face and eyes had flushed deep red with anger.
"Judging by your reaction, it seems you know who's behind this."
As he crushed a mist-tiger, reducing it to a pool of blood, Zhao Li replied:
"Of course I know. It's the Creation Gu! It's the one who devised these dungeons. It seems we've disturbed its slumber—it had been resting ever since it encountered the Dream Gu's counterpart."
"As the saying goes: 'Creation is forged from dreams.'"
Zhao Li and Alessandra significantly increased their pace, striving to reach the Origin Tree Gu as quickly as possible while evading the beasts in pursuit.
As she ran—slaying the occasional beast along the way—Alessandra muttered to herself:
"It's a good thing we placed our children inside the Spirit World beforehand."
Zhao Li glanced at her and gave a slight nod, as if he had understood her thoughts without a word being spoken. The same thought had occurred to him.
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Tom paused at an altitude of forty-five kilometers above sea level, his gaze vacant. The wind stirred his hair—a mix of white and black strands—which reached nearly to his waist.
Jigua Island lay almost entirely visible before him.
The scene was enchanting, captivating to the heart; yet, no smile or sign of admiration touched Tom's features. His expression remained cold.
He held no fond memories of this place.
As he looked down at Jigua Island, he spoke in a tone that promised vengeance:
"Wisdom Gu—when we meet again, I shall make you regret the very day you were brought into this world."
With that, Tom sat down in the shade of the leaves of the Origin Tree—leaves as vast as elephant ears.
His gaze was relatively calm, yet Jigua Island was no place of rest for him; rather, it served as a reminder of one of the most harrowing ordeals he had endured throughout his long life.
"It seems I emerge from the Gate of Life, traverse the Bridge of Time, and cross the winds of fate, only to head toward the Gate of Death. And upon reaching it, I find myself back at the threshold of the Gate of Life—repeating this cycle, over and over, without end. What a truly pathetic existence!"
"Wisdom Gu conspired with Creativity Gu, compelling it to construct dungeons—all to slay Zhao Li and Alessandra, and to prevent the human race from ever coming into being." "Wisdom Gu was not content with merely killing Plum Blossom Emperor Zhao Huamei, Rising Sun Emperor Zhao Yong, and Inverted Sky Emperor Zhao Bingying."
"He even wanted to kill us, too! I will make you regret this!"
Tom stood up, having gathered his thoughts regarding his future and what he intended to do next.
Once he graduated from the academy—or perhaps even sooner, should the opportunity arise—he would kill Wisdom Gu, though not before subjecting him to a thorough, agonizing torment.
With that, he continued his ascent of the Origin Tree Gu, making his way toward its summit.
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After a full day of relentless combat against beasts, signs of frustration appeared on the face of Creativity Gu; he had been unable to inflict any meaningful harm upon Zhao Li and Alessandra.
In fact, the pair were dispatching the beasts without the slightest effort—a reality that left him seething with rage.
Creativity Gu's face flushed deep red with fury. Rank 9 Gu entities often manifested in the form of ethereal sprites.
"Truly... how incredibly fortunate they are!"
Creativity Gu snorted in indignation as he watched Zhao Li and Alessandra make their way toward the center of the island, heading straight for the Origin Tree Gu.
Creativity Gu possessed keen, far-reaching vision—a gaze that seemed virtually boundless, much like creativity itself, which knows no limits. As one's dreams and passions grow, so too does one's capacity for creation, expanding day by day. Despite boasting about this ability in front of the 'Detection Gu,' he secretly hoped that the pair would not witness him destroying the very creations he had spent five hundred years weaving within his mind and heart.
He felt an unbearable bitterness every time they encountered one of his creations—only to kill it without a second thought.
Like any creator passionate about his craft, he was obsessed with his work, constantly striving to refine it toward absolute perfection. He harbored a deep hatred and resentment toward anyone who insulted his creations, diminished their value, or destroyed them.
As the 'Creation Gu' hurled a barrage of insults at Zhao Li and Alessandra—drawing from the various languages that had emerged in the ordinary world—a calm voice, radiating wisdom and unshakable confidence, reached him.
"How are you, Creation Gu? It seems these two filthy humans are insulting you by shattering your creations, showing no regard for the effort you've poured in over the last five hundred years."
"You're right, Wisdom Gu! These scoundrels have insulted my creations. They must pay the price for such an affront!"
The tone of the Creation Gu was a volatile blend of rage, indignation, hatred, malice, and sorrow.
The Creation Gu was obsessed with his creations—perhaps even more so than the 'Innovation Gu' or the 'Obsession Gu' themselves.
Fully aware of this, the Wisdom Gu decided to add fuel to the fire, just as the Creation Gu reached the peak of his fury. With every passing second, the resentment, hatred, and indignation that the Gu of Creativity felt toward Zhao Li and Alessandra intensified—a development that caused a malicious, satisfied smile to spread across the lips of the Gu of Wisdom.
Speaking in a consoling tone, the Gu of Wisdom drew the Gu of Creativity out of his deep, brooding thoughts, prompting the latter to turn his gaze toward him.
"Oh, Gu of Creativity, you are the most versatile among us—you have even surpassed me. I represent wisdom, and my function is singular; yet you possess the freedom to do whatever you wish, in any way you choose. Your creativity knows no bounds."
The words of the Gu of Wisdom were laden with praise and adulation, striking the heart of the Gu of Creativity like a sudden, jarring mixture of cold and hot water.
On one hand, they served to temper his feelings of hatred the rage, anger, and hatred that burned within him; at the same time, it fueled his vanity, arrogance, and boastfulness.
"You are right, O Gu of Wisdom! I am the Gu of Creativity—one of the most extraordinary types of Gu in all of history!"
The Gu of Creativity spoke with utter arrogance and conceit.
The Gu of Wisdom merely watched him, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
*Not the most extraordinary, but rather the most naive and foolish.*
The Gu of Wisdom thought this to himself, deriding the Gu of Creativity's vanity and arrogance.
"I possess wisdom beyond compare, and as the ages pass since the emergence of the World Tree in this fantasy realm, I shall become the wisest entity of all."
Then, in a tone imbued with gravitas and sagacity, the Gu of Wisdom offered some counsel to the Gu of Creativity:
"I shall give you advice that will help you defeat Zao Li and Alessandra—the two who seek to reach the Gu of the Origin Tree, intending to spread their lineage across all the infinite ordinary worlds."
A look of gratitude appeared on the face of the Gu of Creativity; the words of the Gu of Wisdom acted like cool water, extinguishing the fires of hatred and malice in his heart.
Yet, his expression soon shifted to one of bewilderment.
"O Gu of Wisdom—master of unparalleled wisdom—I wish to ask you a question. If it displeases you, I beg you to forgive my ignorance."
The Gu of Wisdom felt a flicker of annoyance upon hearing this; he had already anticipated the question before it was even voiced. "Who would have thought that the Gu of Creativity—notorious for his arrogance—actually possessed a shred of thought inside that brick he calls a brain?"
The Gu of Wisdom mocked him inwardly.
Outwardly, however, he wore an advisory smile, carefully concealing the contempt he felt for the Gu of Creativity.
"I know what you wish to ask, even before you speak a word."
"You wonder why I harbor such hatred and loathing for Zao Li and Alessandra. You are right to ask; your question is well-founded."
"The reason I despise them is my longing for freedom. Being refined by their hands leaves the bitter taste of slavery in my throat—a sensation that fills me with indignation, rage, and utter disgust."
"You and I, Gu of Creativity, were meant to be free—to spread my wisdom and your creativity across the face of the earth."
A look of astonishment crossed the Gu of Creativity's small, beautiful face, quickly shifting to regret; for a fleeting moment, he had doubted the sincerity of the Gu of Wisdom.
He hastened to make amends, his tone filled with deep reverence:
"Show me the way, O Master of Unrivaled Wisdom! Advise me on how we might defeat our enemies—for the sake of the entire Gu universe—and liberate our brethren from their chains."
"Fear not, Gu of Creativity; I shall guide you. Are we not brothers, after all—born from the very same tree?"
"First, render the land toxic to any who dare enter. Furthermore, ensure that certain regions are saturated with such dense *qi* that those who wield mana or *qi* would hesitate to even set foot within them." "Do that—you understand the rest; you are, after all, exceptionally clever."
Creativity Gu nodded with great enthusiasm. Wisdom Gu's flattery fed his vanity, and there was no sign that the praise would stop anytime soon.
Deep down, Wisdom Gu chuckled with sly, cunning intent as he watched Creativity Gu.
"My plan is unfolding exactly as I intended."
Shaking off his own thoughts, Wisdom Gu continued, addressing Creativity Gu:
"And to prevent other entities from exploiting you, ensure the terrain is in a constant state of flux. Keep the traversable paths shifting perpetually, and make the act of passing through them inherently hazardous."
"Thank you, Wisdom Gu! But what if the two of them manage to survive? What should I do then? And what if their descendants seek revenge? I am Creativity Gu—I possess no offensive or defensive power. I am drawn to creativity; I cannot resist other creative beings. Just as the Drunken Traveler Gu cannot resist the aroma of an exquisite, peerless brew, I cannot resist the allure of creativity."
Wisdom Gu felt a surge of irritation at the barrage of questions—nothing annoyed him more than being pestered.
He cared little for who might—or might not—possess him, provided he was left in peace; in truth, he preferred not to speak to anyone at all. He simply wished to remain alone, contemplating the nature of existence.
Nevertheless, he ultimately found himself agreeing with Creativity Gu's concerns.
It was, after all, an inescapable reality. No matter how powerful a Gu may be, if the right method to attract it is known, it will come to you of its own accord.
Even the Wisdom Gu was not exempt from this predicament.
The Wisdom Gu was involuntarily drawn to the wisest and most dignified individuals. Zhao Li possessed a wisdom that surpassed all others—even though he had deceived his own children hundreds of times.
He was, in fact, indirectly responsible for the deaths of Plum Blossom Emperor Zhao Huamei, Rising Sun Emperor Zhao Yong, and Inverted Heaven Emperor Zhao Bingying.
Although his role in their deaths was indirect—as they perished due to the overwhelming emotions that consumed their hearts—he would invariably vanish whenever they sought his counsel to resolve their dire crises, leaving them to die unaided, despite his clear ability to intervene.
Yet, Zhao Li and Alessandra—under whose control the Wisdom Gu found itself—were far more intelligent and sagacious than he; they consistently saw through his deceptions with effortless ease.
To them, his schemes were little more than child's play. For the first time in his existence, he felt utterly powerless—a sensation that curdled into profound hatred and malice toward them and their offspring.
Having observed them for over 1,500 years, he came to understand the way they—and their children, whom he deemed fools—thought.
The Wisdom Gu remained silent for several seconds before turning its gaze toward the Creativity Gu.
"The chances of Zhao Li and Alessandra succeeding remain high—even after you carry out what I have asked of you." "Therefore, establish a forbidden zone on the earth—a 'Graveyard of Creativity'—in the event that they succeed in achieving their goal."
A smile of satisfaction appeared on the face of the Creativity Gu, and he thanked the Wisdom Gu profusely.
"Oh, Wisdom Gu, as long as I exist in this world, I shall never forget the favor you have shown me!"
The Wisdom Gu then vanished, leaving behind a smile that boded ill.
In his overwhelming excitement, the Creativity Gu failed to notice that smile.
"Indeed—as long as you exist, you shall never forget my favor."
The Wisdom Gu muttered, his voice barely audible, his tone dripping with mockery and contempt for the Creativity Gu.
Following this, the Creativity Gu set about carrying out the Wisdom Gu's instructions to the letter.
It was an incredibly exhausting task—to the point that To the extent that he would be forced to sleep for thousands—even millions—of years.
Yet, his creations would endure for as long as existence itself persists.
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Tom continued his ascent of the Origin Tree—without pausing to rest, even though only two hours had passed since he began his climb.
He deliberately refrained from using his spiritual or mental energy, nor would he tap into 99% of his physical strength; had he done so, he could have reached the summit of the Origin Tree in a single second.
He chose to stop at the very same locations where his two halves—Zao Li and Alessandra—had once paused, millions of years ago.
Three hours into his relentless climb, at 14:34, Tom came to a halt. He had spotted a dried stain of blood—a remnant that had somehow survived the passage of all those ages.
"It was here that I lost my other half, Alessandra; here that the Sacred Yang merged with the Sacred Yin."
Tom murmured, his voice barely a whisper, as he brushed his hand over the dried blood—his heart heavy with pain and sorrow.
"Sometimes, perseverance is more than just a feeling within one's heart; it may be the only choice one has—a way of life that keeps one alive in this wretched world."
Tom raised his gaze toward the summit of the Origin Tree, where the foliage grew so dense that it was nearly impossible to see what lay within.
The leaves of the Origin Tree came in a myriad of hues—some beautiful and vibrant, others shrouded in mystery.
"Life, no matter how beautiful, is but fleeting. Like all transient things, it erodes in the vast sea of time, eventually becoming nothing more than refuse—discarded, unwanted, and forgotten." "Love, friendship, family—as well as hatred, animosity, and envy—are all fleeting in this world. There are no eternal enemies or eternal friends; there are only shared goals or a common adversary—nothing more."
"Gu of Wisdom and Gu of Creativity were neither friends nor enemies, yet their paths crossed. They shared a common foe: Alessandra and Zhao Li."
"Ultimately, the only loser in that battle was Gu of Creativity. Zhao Li and Alessandra achieved their objective, while Gu of Wisdom gained nothing. Gu of Creativity was the only one who suffered a loss."
Tom spoke in a calm tone, his fragmented memories gradually returning to him.
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Three days later, Zhao Li and Alessandra had covered a vast distance, climbing the 'Gu Tree of Origin.' They were not merely climbing it in the literal sense; they were leaping between its roots and branches to hasten their ascent, for they had only a few hours of life remaining.
The climb was grueling. Both were suffering from severe internal and external injuries—their bodies tainted and battered from relentless battles against beasts, despite being in a physical state that should have rendered them incapable of fighting at all.
As they ascended the Gu Tree of Origin, Alessandra suddenly stopped. She began to vomit blood profusely, then pressed her blood-stained palm against one of the tree's roots. Alessandra was in a dire state; her mana core—situated within her heart—had sustained severe damage, and her heart itself was steadily eroding, showing no signs of recovery.
A wry, mocking smile touched her lips as she gazed at Zhao Li, whose expression was etched with concern.
"Zhao Li, do you remember the saying that the most beautiful things are the shortest-lived, rather than the longest-lasting?"
Confusion flickered across Zhao Li's face; Alessandra's words seemed absurd, entirely out of place given their current predicament.
"We have lived for two thousand years—the longest span we could ever hope to attain. Isn't that fascinating? We have seen everything there is to see; all that remains is to witness death. But mark my words: sometimes, it is better to be a pine tree than a cherry blossom."
Alessandra's body began to dissolve into a pale, ethereal dust, which then surged toward Zhao Li and merged into his own form.
"Zhao Li... I'm counting on you, all right?"
Her tone was heavy with desperate pleading—Zhao Li was her final hope. After all, in the end, they were one and the same.
A deep, weary sigh escaped Zhao Li's lips. He raised his gaze toward the crown of the Origin Tree—a dense canopy of leaves, their colors shifting through a spectrum of vibrant, muted, somber, and sickly hues.
"You fool! I have precious little time left before the Sacred Yang and the Sacred Yin within me detonate. They are fundamentally incompatible, and the conflict between them rages on, unceasing." "Jia Yao Li could have stabilized them, but she isn't here."
Zao Li surged forward at great speed, exerting all his strength to arrive on time. He deliberately refrained from tapping into the power of Alessandra—which resided within him—reserving it instead for the activation of the Origin Tree Gu.
As Zao Li leaped with all his might, the Gu of Creativity was gripped by intense anxiety; his worst fears had come to pass. Zao Li and Alessandra were on the verge of achieving their goal—in an unconventional way, perhaps, but one that had ultimately proven successful.
"What should I do... what should I do?!"
The Gu of Creativity's voice was laced with panic as he paced in circles like a fool, tugging at his own white hair.
Then, he recalled the words of the Gu of Wisdom, who had instructed him to head to the Graveyard of Creativity. After all, no one would ever be able to find him there—it was a forbidden zone, its location unknown to everyone.
A broad, goofy grin spread across the little Gu of Creativity's face before he vanished from the horizon, setting off toward the Graveyard of Creativity.
Meanwhile, Zao Li had reached the summit of the Origin Tree Gu. There, he discovered a colossal cavity glowing with a myriad of colors—some beautiful, some bizarre, and others utterly repulsive and nauseating.
Zao Li stared into it, his expression blank, but he had no luxury to waste time.
His body was convulsing violently; he was on the verge of exploding, torn apart by the Sacred Yang and Sacred Yin energies that were locked in an unceasing struggle within him. Zhao Li reached his hand toward the pit and unleashed the last of his remaining energy, attempting to refine the Origin Tree Gu—but he failed.
The resulting backlash caused him to vomit blood and sustain multiple internal injuries; meanwhile, the moment of his impending explosion drew ever closer.
"No... no... no!"
Zhao Li's voice grew louder with each repetition of the word.
"Failure is not an option! I must succeed, no matter the cost! I am nothing but a weak, foolish "