Strong Gu

Bing Sai Chuan tosses Hei Lou Lan a rank seven Immortal Gu that looks like a black and gold beetle and feels very heavy. He names it strong Gu, says it is rule path, and says it suits her Great Strength True Martial Physique even though her path is strength. Hei Lou Lan recognizes Strong Gu from The Legends of Ren Zu and its close connection to that physique, and treats the gift as a legendary Immortal Gu meant to nurture her. ^{ch. 2036}

Strong Gu returns inside a huge Predicament and mocks Ren Zu for relying on hope alone. When Ren Zu asks how Strong Gu proves it is strong while they are weak, Strong Gu answers that it is strong Gu and the other is weak Gu, then proposes that each side eat a portion of the other until one fails. Ren Zu eats the Predicament’s bitter head and losses while Strong Gu has the Predicament eat Ren Zu’s skin and flesh. ^{ch. 2041}

During the later contest Strong Gu has the Predicament eat Ren Zu’s hearts, including the heart that holds hope Gu, then the heart of loneliness. After Ren Zu falls, loneliness bursts the Predicament and Great Strength True Martial is born. He grabs Strong Gu, Self Gu bites it, and Great Strength True Martial stuffs Strong Gu into his heart of ambition, where it cannot escape. ^{ch. 2053}

In a later telling Strong Gu already speaks from Great Strength True Martial’s heart. It urges him onto the Upslope Road, helps him notice effort Gu at his feet, and pushes him to kill and eat Predicaments so both grow stronger. ^{ch. 2117}

As Ren Zu and his children search for knowledge that is always right, Great Strength True Martial’s strong Gu says proudly that their effort is in vain, because the world has only ever held strong and weak, never right or wrong, so they cannot classify either. ^{ch. 2176}