Chapter 7: The Elders Approval

Shen Li stands before the carved wooden doors of Elder Zao's chamber. Taking a steady breath, he pushes them open and steps inside without hesitation. The air is thick with incense and authority. Elder Zao sits at a low table, nursing a cup of bitter tea. His eyes, sharp as daggers, flick up at Shen Li's arrival.

"So," Elder Zao drawls, voice low and edged. "You requested an audience. This had better be worth my time."

Shen Li bows, controlled and respectful but not servile. "I believe it will be, Elder." He produces a small jade box from his sleeve and sets it on the table with deliberate care. "I have brought the Condemnation Gu for your consideration."

Shen Li sat in front of Elder Zao once again, this time with a more decisive tone in his voice. "Elder, the Condemnation Gu isn't merely a tool for execution—it's a tool for control." His fingers traced the edges of the jade box on the table between them, a quiet confidence behind his words. "It can make people submit without torture. No need for whips or steel. Just a whisper of a command, and they will obey."

Elder Zao leaned back in his chair, gaze sharp and unamused. "And yet, you still lack one crucial thing, boy." His voice was measured, yet heavy with warning. "A host. This Gu isn't a weapon unless it's planted." He tapped a finger against the wooden surface of the table. "And you know we do not test foreign parasites on our own bloodline. Who do you intend to sacrifice?"

Shen Li had anticipated this response. He had spent the last few days calculating every step. He met the elder's gaze with unwavering determination. "A captive," he said simply. "Someone outside the clan. We don't lack prisoners—those captured lurking too close to our shores, spies, defectors, wanderers who think they can breach Shen territory."

Elder Zao hummed, thoughtful. He set down his teacup, fingers steepling beneath his chin. "And what exactly is the process?"

Shen Li took a slow breath, measuring his words carefully. "The host must be carefully selected. Unlike other Gu, the Condemnation Gu requires a stable carrier to develop fully." He gestured toward the jade box, where the Gu slumbered inside. "Once it enters a host's body, it burrows into the spinal cord, merging with their nervous system. The process takes a week—during that time, the host is nearly incapacitated with fever and nerve pain."

Elder Zao listened in silence, his expression unreadable.

Shen Li continued. "Once the Gu stabilizes, it produces offspring—child Gu that can be transferred through bodily fluids, primarily saliva." He let the words settle, watching for the elder's reaction. "It's not something that kills outright. It spreads."

A glimmer of interest flickered in Elder Zao's dark eyes. "And what happens to those infected?"

Shen Li smirked. "In three days, the child Gu will take root within them, attaching itself to their spinal nerves. The host—the original host—can then activate their pain receptors remotely. A mere thought will send them into a world of agony, as if their bones are being shattered from the inside out." His fingers drummed against the table. "They cannot resist. They cannot escape. There is no antidote."

Elder Zao let out a slow, deliberate breath. "So… a parasite that breeds obedience."

Shen Li nodded. "If we use it wisely, it will ensure complete control over prisoners, defectors, even spies. Imagine capturing someone with vital intelligence. There will be no need for crude methods—just a bite, and within days, they belong to us."

Elder Zao's lips curled into a knowing smile. "A devil's leash."

"A perfect one," Shen Li affirmed.

For a long moment, the elder remained silent, then finally nodded. "I will arrange a test subject. You will oversee the implantation yourself." His gaze darkened. "But if your parasite proves to be a failure, I will have you take its place in the pit. Are we clear?"

Shen Li did not falter. "Crystal clear, Elder."

Two days later, Shen Li stood in the underground chambers of the fortress, where prisoners were kept before being disposed of. The air was thick with dampness, the walls lined with rusted chains and iron rings bolted deep into the stone.

Before him knelt a bound man—a rogue cultivator who had been caught attempting to infiltrate Shen territory. His wrists were shackled, and his mouth was gagged, though muffled curses still wriggled their way past the restraints. His eyes burned with hatred as he glared up at Shen Li.

"Strip him," Elder Zao commanded.

Two guards stepped forward and roughly tore the man's robes from his shoulders, exposing his bare back to the cold underground air. He thrashed against their grip, veins bulging as he fought against his restraints.

Shen Li approached with the jade box in hand. He could feel the Condemnation Gu inside, pulsing with dormant hunger. With a flick of his fingers, he unlatched the lid.

A small, blackened beetle-like creature emerged, its carapace still glowing faintly with crimson lines. The moment it sensed the exposed flesh before it, it began to twitch, eager to find a home.

Elder Zao's eyes gleamed in the torchlight. "Begin."

Shen Li crouched down, his fingers pressing against the captive's trembling skin. He brought the Gu close. As soon as the creature detected warmth, it lunged.

The moment its mandibles sank into the prisoner's flesh, the man let out a muffled, strangled scream. His body jerked violently, muscles spasming as the Gu burrowed into the nape of his neck. The flesh sizzled as the Gu's molten heat seared its way through his nervous system, carving a direct path to the spinal cord.

His screams grew hoarse. His back arched unnaturally. Then—silence. His breathing turned ragged, his face drenched in sweat.

Shen Li stood back, watching. The process has begun.

Elder Zao observed with mild curiosity. "And now?"

Shen Li didn't take his eyes off the writhing body on the ground. "Now we wait. Within the next few days, the Gu will fuse with his spine. By the seventh day, it will be producing offspring. That's when we will have our real weapon."

Elder Zao smirked. "And the test for control?"

Shen Li's lips curled into something cold. "Once it stabilizes, I'll show you exactly what it can do."

He turned away, leaving the prisoner to his fate.

Seven days. That's all it would take.

Shen Li sat in his dimly lit room, his body drenched in sweat. His hands trembled slightly as he wiped his forehead with a damp cloth. It wasn't from fear—it was from the sheer tension of the past few days. If anything went wrong with the prisoner, Elder Zao would not hesitate to turn him into a blood sacrifice for the clan.

Each night, he drowned himself in the three Gu refinement manuals, absorbing every word, dissecting every possibility. Gu refinement was not a fixed process—each step had countless variations. A slight change in the feeding method, a different incubation period, the wrong environment—it could all result in a failed Gu.

Shen Li made his way to the underground dungeon every morning, his heartbeat synchronized with the prisoner's condition. He carried a wooden tray each time, stacked with clean water, nourishing foods, and a few spiritual herbs mixed in—just enough to sustain the man but not strengthen him.

The first few days were brutal.

The prisoner convulsed violently, his veins bulging unnaturally beneath his skin. Sweat poured down his body like rain, and his breath came in ragged gasps. At times, he screamed himself hoarse, unable to bear the fiery invasion of the Condemnation Parasite Gu burrowing into his spinal cord.

Shen Li crouched beside him, his fingers pressing against the man's pulse. Still alive. His lips thinned.

"Relax," he murmured softly, though he knew the man couldn't hear him.

Instead, he reached out with his thoughts.

The Gu obeyed him. It was bound to him through their shared blood connection.

Shen Li's mind pulsed with silent commands, his focus entirely on the parasite:

"Do not kill the host.""Do not spread too quickly.""Stabilize yourself.""Merge without breaking him."

Each order sent ripples of control through the Condemnation Gu, forcing it to adjust, calm its aggression, and slow its painful transformation process. Without Shen Li's influence, the prisoner would have likely died from shock in the first two days.

By the fourth day, the prisoner stopped screaming. His skin was still slick with sweat, but the fever had lowered slightly. He was weak, eyes sunken, and his body trembled involuntarily, but he was alive.

Shen Li inspected the signs carefully.

His appetite had started increasing, though he was still frail. The Condemnation Gu had begun feeding off the man's vitality, increasing his body's natural metabolic rate. The effect was immediate—the prisoner required more food than a normal person just to sustain himself.

Shen Li observed everything with cold calculation.

"The Gu is feeding.""That means it has accepted its host."

Good. The most critical part of the integration was over. Now, the Gu would begin producing child Gu.

On the seventh day, Shen Li entered the dungeon to a completely different sight.

The prisoner sat upright, his breathing stable. His eyes no longer burned with pain, but there was something new inside them—a distant emptiness. He was completely aware of his surroundings yet strangely compliant.

Shen Li approached carefully. "How do you feel?" he asked, his voice steady.

The prisoner's lips moved sluggishly. His voice was dry but clear. "Hungry."

Shen Li smirked. Of course he is.

The Condemnation Gu had fully merged with its host. Its roots had already buried themselves inside the man's spine, leeching off his body's Qi, nutrients, and life force. From now on, his hunger would always be greater than a normal man's.

But more importantly…

"The Gu has begun producing offspring."

Shen Li extended his awareness, brushing against the living parasite bound to him. Instantly, he felt it—the slow pulse of child Gu forming within the prisoner's marrow, tiny, embryonic creatures waiting to be transferred.

He exhaled. It was a success.

Shen Li pulled a small, curved knife from his robes and pressed the cold steel against the prisoner's palm. He dragged the edge along the skin, a shallow cut forming.

No reaction. Not even a flinch.

"Spit," Shen Li ordered.

The prisoner obediently spat into his own bleeding wound.

The saliva mixed with the fresh blood, and within moments, Shen Li felt it—the Condemnation Gu had transferred its offspring into the exposed wound.

The prisoner flinched.

Shen Li smiled.

"Three days." That's all it would take before the new victim felt the burning grip of absolute control.

Shen Li walked through the dimly lit corridors of the Shen Clan fortress, his expression unreadable. This time, he wasn't just meeting Elder Zao—there would be others.

He clenched his fists slightly. Executioners…

They weren't the highest-ranking figures in the clan, but they held power over life and death. Every member of the Execution Hall was at least Bone Refinement level, making them some of the strongest individuals on Shen Island.

Shen Li knew that within the clan, only two elders had reached Blood Refinement, and those two were from separate ancestral lineages, keeping their knowledge and resources to themselves.

That meant, for now, Organ Refinement was the peak power on the island, and the Executioners—who all stood at Bone Refinement or higher—were some of the most dangerous men he could interact with.

And today, he was about to demonstrate a power that could change everything.

The stone-walled meeting chamber was small, filled with flickering torches that cast shadows on the engraved symbols of the Shen Clan. A large, iron cage stood in the center, containing two more prisoners—men captured from the outside world, now nothing more than tools for experiments.

Elder Zao stood at the front, his usual amused expression replaced with one of grave interest.

Seated around him were three Executioners.

Elder Mojiang – A thick-bodied man with deep scars along his arms, a veteran of countless battles. His presence alone carried an overwhelming sense of authority.Elder Baiwu – A lean man with pale skin, wearing dark robes lined with silver embroidery. Unlike the others, he carried an air of quiet ruthlessness.Elder Xiuren – The oldest of the three, his hair streaked with gray. A man whose reputation for extracting information through torture was infamous.

All three of them sat at a long stone table, their gazes locked onto Shen Li the moment he entered.

For a brief moment, the air felt heavy. Executioners did not waste time with pleasantries.

"Boy," Elder Mojiang rumbled, his voice like grinding stone. "Elder Zao says you've created something… interesting." His eyes gleamed with a cold, predatory curiosity. "We're here to see if you're worth our time."

Shen Li bowed lightly. "I believe my creation will prove itself."

Elder Zao smirked and gestured to the prisoner kneeling before them—the one who had already been implanted with the Condemnation Parasite Gu.

"Then prove it."

Shen Li stepped forward, his heartbeat steady.

The Executioners watched in silence as he turned toward the prisoner and spoke.

"Stand."

The man immediately obeyed, moving with stiff, mechanical precision. His body no longer belonged to him.

A flicker of interest passed through Elder Baiwu's cold gaze.

Elder Xiuren narrowed his eyes. "And if he resists?"

Shen Li smiled faintly.

He reached into his robes and withdrew a small, curved knife, just as he had in the dungeon. Without hesitation, he sliced a shallow cut into the prisoner's arm.

"Spit."

The prisoner's lips moved immediately, saliva dripping onto his own wound.

A moment of stillness.

Then—

The second captive in the iron cage jerked violently, his body convulsing as though something was crawling inside his skin.

A twisted grin formed on Elder Mojiang's face.

"Fascinating," he muttered.

The second captive's eyes widened in horror as his body froze—his veins bulging as something burrowed deep into his spinal cord. He screamed, his limbs trembling, but he could not move against the power now infecting him.

Shen Li turned to the Executioners. "In three days, the second host will be fully controlled."

Elder Xiuren stroked his beard. "And if we need immediate results?"

Shen Li tapped his fingers against his wrist. "The parasite can be forced to grow in just one day if the host is properly weakened." He tilted his head slightly. "Pain, starvation, and blood loss will accelerate the process."

A cruel chuckle escaped Elder Baiwu.

"Useful," he murmured.

Elder Mojiang folded his arms. "What else can it do?"

Shen Li let his smirk widen.

He closed his hand into a fist.

Instantly, the first prisoner dropped to his knees, clutching his head as an inhuman wail escaped his lips. His body twitched violently, his limbs spasming as an invisible force wracked his nerves with unbearable pain.

This was the Judgment Sting. The parasite's true power.

Elder Mojiang's lips curled into a brutal grin.

Elder Xiuren exhaled, leaning back into his chair. "You mean to tell me," he said slowly, "that this Gu allows us to keep prisoners in a constant state of agony… without even touching them?"

Shen Li nodded.

"Not just pain." His voice was calm, assured. "It will not let them faint. It will not let them die. It will simply let them suffer."

A flicker of undisguised excitement passed between the Executioners.

Elder Baiwu was the first to break the silence.

"This," he murmured, "is worth investing in."

Elder Mojiang cracked his knuckles. "We'll be taking him," he gestured to the first prisoner, "for further testing. If what you claim holds true, then we may need… more."

Elder Xiuren studied Shen Li carefully. "Boy, you've created something truly devilish."

Shen Li bowed slightly, hiding his smirk.

"Does that mean I will be recognized by the clan?"

Elder Baiwu laughed softly. "Not yet. But… this is a step in the right direction."

Elder Mojiang nodded. "For now, you'll be given access to low-level prisoners. Keep refining your techniques. If your results prove reliable, then we will see where this path takes you."

Shen Li frowned slightly. He expected some restrictions, but to limit him to low-quality prisoners was frustrating.

Still, he knew better than to push too far too fast.

This was just the beginning.

Shen Li clenched his fist behind his back.

"Step by step."