Gu: legendary Chinese witchcraft. It is a kind of mysterious object artificially cultivated by special methods, which can be cultivated for many years. It can be large or small. Generally, it is a worm or some kind of insect.
The Hundred Kalpa Ghost Hand Rattan used its several thousand vines at the same time to fly out of the muddy puddles and run away fast.
There were many kinds of spiritual herbs and trees around this area. Murky swamps and clear lakes were situated in this place, which sent thick moisture into the air together with the abundant energy.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
Buzz! Buzz!
The strange noise was zooming over. Shi Yan and Shang Ying Yue hid in different trees, frowning and waiting.
Shortly after, the Hundred Kalpa Ghost Hand Rattan which had just left returned. Countless vines wiggled on the ground like living tentacles as it hurried to get under the muddy bog where it used to dwell.
Shi Yan was surprised.
Before he had arrived on this planet, he had listened to Shang Chen talking about Desolate, the ancient continent. This ancient continent didn't have any living creature or races. There was no living being with a body and blood like Monster Clan, Demon Clan, or Human Clan living on this planet. Every ten thousand years, Desolate would open, but later on, it would kick those people out.
However, there were many Original Incipient Grade herbs and grass. They didn't have blood and flesh, but they did have simple cognition. They were the spirit floras.
According to Shang Chen, the spirit floras had a limited lifespan. They couldn't live and cultivate forever like the Monster Clan or Demon Clan. When the plants in this star grew to a particular level, their energy vanished and returned to the ancient continent, which prevented from changing the structure of the continent.
The creatures with blood and flesh weren't like that. Taking the Human Clan or the God Clan for example, as long as their realms were profound enough, their lives could be endless.
As long as they were alive, creatures from different races would need energy from earth and heaven to cultivate. They would grow unlimitedly. Even if a life star could have more earth and heaven energy, sheltering a large number of this kind of experts, its energy would all be consumed eventually and become a dead star in the end.
Grace Mainland was also an ancient continent. However, after the Immemorial Epoch, the Antiquity Time, and the Ancient Time, it had given birth to many immemorial creatures, God Clan, and the Ten Great Clans. Until this moment, its energy had been used up.
Desolate seemed to have realized this point pretty early. It was the most selfish planet among the great ancient continents. It was like the woman who has never given birth so she could maintain her beauty, health, and vitality.
Hundred Kalpa Ghost Hand Rattan was a spirit plant that had grown in this ancient continent for a long time so it had a simple consciousness. The "Hundred Kalpa" meant that this plant would take one hundred years for each of its Kalpas (*), and one hundred Kalpas were just ten thousand years, which was also the lifespan of the Hundred Kalpa Ghost Hand Rattan. It could live only ten thousand years. When its time was over, it had to vanish and its energy would return to the ancient continent.
(*) a Sanskrit word meaning a relatively long period of time (by human calculation) in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology. Sometimes, it's used to describe a calamity too.
Seeing the demonic rattan hide under the swamp, Shi Yan frowned at the description of that plant in his book. He felt astounded.
The Hundred Kalpa Ghost Hand Rattan was as rigid as an icy crystal. It had cognition and often hid in the dirty boggy wetland. After it could create ten thousand vines, it could refine the Hundred Kalpa Soul Thread, which was an Original Incipient Grade material that allowed for the refining of the dangerous divine weapon of soul class.
Those were the details of Shang Chen's description of the demonic rattan in the book.
The Hundred Kalpa Ghost Hand Rattan was tough. Once it hid in the pond it was dwelling in, it was hard to force it out.
Putting the book away, Shi Yan glanced at Shang Yin Yue hide on a tree through the gaps between the branches and leaves.
The two massive trees they were hiding in were tall and big with thick branches and leaves that shaded a large area. Besides just two people, they could even hide ten without making any significant traces for the others to discover.
This ancient continent had a magical effect on the Soul Consciousness. Even Shi Yan's Soul Consciousness couldn't catch the life energy fluctuations around him. He believed that people who came here would encounter the same restriction. In this area, eyes were the sharpest tools to find a target. Thus, hiding in a thick bush didn't sound funny at all.
Rattle! Rattle!
All of a sudden, strange rattling and buzzing noises swarmed over from everywhere.
Shi Yan squinted to have a better look. He changed his complexion immediately. His face was now ashen.
So many toxic insects and even snakes and scorpions were flying in the sky. Shi Yan could see the green-legged spiders, black scorpions, and many toxic insects move in gray clouds and cover the entire sky like slashing waves. There were more than millions of them. In just a blink of an eye, they packed the area.
Those insects and toxic animals had swallowed all kinds of spirit herbs and grass, leaving not even a dried leaf. On their way, all things were cleared.
The wetland was exposed.
Millions of deadly creatures swarmed over the area like a disgusting, rising tide, while others flew in the sky.
Sssss! Sssss!
A strange whistle reverberated in the place, echoing unceasingly. It seemed that the cry came from a flute that controlled the toxic insects and animals.
Shi Yan put on a cold a harsh face and slowly pulled himself together. He watched the oncoming venomous things.
He knew that the ancient continent didn't have any of those demonic insects or anything that had blood and flesh. Those things came from some people from outer space like him. The whistle he heard was definitely from someone who was guiding those insects. There was something hiding in the dark somewhere.
On the tree opposite Shi Yan, Shang Ying Yue had a cold face. It looked like she found those things disgusting.
Instinctively, women were afraid of those little nauseating things. Shang Ying Yue wasn't an exception. Watching the toxic insects and venomous animals coming close, she had released her energy in advance. The cold Qi she had released had frozen the entire tree.
Demonic insects and venomous animals surged like rising waves on the ground. They started to move and congregate. Gradually, they became a vague face...
That was a dark, old Dark Spirit man whose face was filled with pimples. He looked ferociously ugly. Slowly, the demonic insects and toxic animals gathered and formed his body. After a while, he didn't look much different from normal people.
He grinned and let out a hoarse laughter. He rose a bony hand from his loose, black robe, pointing at Shang Ying Yue from a far distance.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
Countless insects wildly swarmed over. Shortly after, the ancient tree where Shang Ying Yue was hiding was covered with insects. Within ten seconds, the tree fell. Its branches and leaves were all swallowed.
Shang Ying Yue had blue lightning beams crawling on her body. She stood in the middle of the insect pile in disgust. An electric halo expanded from under her feet, keeping those insects away from her.
"You're the daughter of Shang Chen and An Liya and your name is Shang Ying Yue, right?" The Dark Spirit old man looked at her. After a while, he laughed evilly, "By the way, the Guiding Fruits you guys have are from our Hollow Fearsome Star Area. Yeah, from us, to be exact."
"You are from the "Gu God Sect" of the Hollow Fearsome Star Area?" Shang Ying Yue discolored, her eyes showing a concealed fear.
Hollow Fearsome Star Area was like Fantasy Mist Star Area. They were both extremely famous high-level star areas in this vast universe. The general competence of these star areas was mighty. They were also part of a small number of star areas that the God Clan didn't dare to intrude. Compared to Fiery Rain Star Area and Agate Star Area, these two-star areas were much stronger.
However, the main reason that the God Clan didn't dare to touch the Hollow Fearsome Star Area was that of the Gu God Sect. This sect was the most mysterious sect in this universe. Members of this sect cultivated evil incantations and witchcraft. They were so intimidating that even the God Clan didn't dare to provoke them.
Members of the Gu God Sect had mastered using legendary venomous worms. They could kill people without touching them. They could make the others' soul altar rotten as if it was gnawed by toxic insects.
Legends said that one expert from the Great Twelve Families of the God Clan used to want to attack Hollow Fearsome Star Area. However, while he was still trying to convince the experts of his family, his soul altar began to fracture day by day. The God Clan couldn't do anything but watch him die. They didn't know how to heal him.
This rang the alarming bell to that God Clan's family. They aborted the thought of dealing with the Gu God Sect.
Of course, many people thought that the reason why the God Clan hadn't started a war was that the Gu God Sect had just operated within their Hollow Fearsome Star Area. They didn't show their intent of invading other star areas or causing conflict with the God Clan. At the same time, this sect was really strong. The God Clan had planned to invade the other star areas first and then Hollow Fearsome Star Area.
Anyway, no one dared to defy the intimidation of the Gu God Sect. This peculiar sect of Hollow Fearsome Star Area had a good grasp of the wickedest witchcraft in the entire universe. Even strong Incipient God Realm experts were wary of them.
"It's true. I'm from Hollow Fearsome Star Area. My name is Sha Zhao." The old man of the Gu God Sect grinned and revealed his white, sharp teeth, which was scary, indeed.
"Sha Zhao!" Shang Ying Yue screamed in fear, her face more grimaced. "I've heard of you from my mother. You are the strongest expert at Ethereal God Realm of Gu God Sect!
"Haha, overpraising." Sha Zhao guffawed. His laughter was really unpleasant to the ears. "I'm here to take the Hundred Kalpa Soul Thread. Am I bothering you?"
"Not at all," Shang Yin Yue's eyes sparkled as she talked faintly, "If you don't mind, I'm leaving now so I don't interfere with your business here."
"Suit yourself," Sha Zhao looked at her and then hissed. Countless toxic insects proactively made her way and let Shang Ying Yue go.
Shang Ying Yue didn't hesitate. She nodded and then walked out of the way. When she was about to get rid of the insect surroundings, she talked while walking away from Sha Zhao, "I should make it clear that the one who is hiding in the tree over there is not an acquaintance of mine. You shouldn't think I have some other intention for leaving him here."
Then, she accelerated and leaped out of the circle of demonic insects and venomous animal like a lightning strike.
Sha Zhao was surprised, laughing evilly. "Friend, come out and talk."
Shi Yan looked harsh and cold as he watched Shang Ying Yue dash away. He took a deep breath and landed away from the tree. Fierce flames burst out from his feet.
Many insects and animals proactively avoided him and gave him room to land. The venomous insects hissed as if they were provoked and ready to fight.
Sha Zhao's eyes brightened. He was so excited looking at the fiery flame under Shi Yan's feet. "Heaven flame of the Origin! Haha, it's the flaming Origin! Good, so good!"
"You want it?" asked Shi Yan calmly.
Sha Zhao nodded continually and said honestly, "The flaming Origin is rare. This kind of flame is marvelously useful to the disciples of our Gu God Sect. Little buddy, can you give up your favorite thing?"
"Sure can," squinting, Shi Yan also smiled. He pointed at his head, "It's fused with my soul. Kill me and you can get it. Simple, eh?"
Sha Zhao frowned and was silent.