Ch 13: Hu Immortal Blessed Land
…
After gathering his thoughts, Fang Yuan frowned slightly. Although he had absorbed all the knowledge of the Reverend Insanity plotline, it was impossible to remember every small detail, especially regarding specific numbers and measurements.
For example, he couldn't recall the exact area of the Hu Immortal Blessed Land or the precise number of Gu worms inhabiting it. He decided to rectify this immediately.
"Little Hu," Fang Yuan called out calmly, "give me a detailed report on the blessed land."
The Hu Immortal land spirit appeared instantly, bowing her head slightly. Her timid demeanor remained unchanged as she spoke softly, "Master, this blessed land spans around 4,000 km². The flow of time here is five times faster than the outside world."
She raised her hand, and a virtual image formed in the air before Fang Yuan, depicting the vast lands under his control. The land appeared like a colorful carpet, divided into various regions, each teeming with grasses and flowers.
"The land is mostly grassland," she continued, "composed primarily of blue degree grass, water chestnut grass, and six divine grass. Additionally, there are seven treasure flowers and milk tea flowers. These make up the primary resources, but there are also several types of wild grass and flowers, as well as a number of wild Gu worms."
Fang Yuan studied the floating image. The blue degree grass had a poisonous hue, while the water chestnut grass resembled small spiked bulbs. The six divine grass, with its six jade-like leaves, exuded a faint sense of vitality. The seven-colored treasure flowers sparkled like gems, while the cup-shaped milk tea flowers were filled with nectar resembling creamy tea.
He nodded slightly. These grasses and flowers may seem insignificant to the untrained eye, but they were valuable cultivation resources. Each species could be used as a Gu refinement ingredient, and some of the flowers and grasses even nurtured wild Gu worms. With 4,000 square kilometers of land, the amount of potential Gu was staggering.
"How many wild Gu worms are present in the blessed land?" Fang Yuan asked, his sharp gaze never leaving the image.
The Hu Immortal land spirit tilted her head, calculating for a brief moment before responding, "At present, there are over 860,000 Rank One Gu, distributed across fifty-two types. There are approximately 130,000 Rank Two Gu, with forty-eight types. Five thousand Rank Three Gu, with twelve types. Sixty Rank Four Gu, spread across eight types. And only one Rank Five Gu— the fox skin Gu."
Fang Yuan nodded again, absorbing the information quickly. These wild Gu worms would be easy to capture. With just a single command, the land spirit could gather them for him instantly. This was a major advantage, as Gu refinement would require vast amounts of these materials, and he could trade them if necessary.
Moreover, while Rank One and Two Gu were insignificant for the time being, the higher-ranked ones could still be of use, either as trade items or as part of future refinement schemes.
Fang Yuan's thoughts began to spin with possibilities. The resources of this blessed land, while limited compared to larger immortal sects, were still a goldmine for him, especially considering his desperate need to grow stronger quickly. He could use these resources to refine crucial Gu worms, cultivate, and expand his foundation.
Of course, the Hu Immortal Blessed Land had its limitations. Fang Yuan knew that even though it was sealed from the outside world, it was not immune to external calamities and tribulations. He had barely survived the competition from the ten major sects and had slipped through their fingers.
Now, the sixth earthly calamity loomed just over a year away. Fang Yuan wasn't foolish enough to think he could avoid it. If he wasn't prepared, everything he had gained— the blessed land, the Fixed Immortal Travel Gu, and the wealth of resources— would be wiped away in an instant.
Still, the corner of his lips curled into a cold smile. Tribulation? Calamity? Heaven's Will? Even the countless enemies he had made? They were all obstacles that would ultimately serve his path.
Through tribulation, I grow stronger. Through conflict, I gain experience. Fang Yuan had no doubt that even the upcoming calamity would be a chance for him to profit, as long as he played his cards right.
"Master," the Hu Immortal land spirit's soft voice brought him back from his thoughts, "is there anything else you wish to know?"
Fang Yuan waved her off for now. He had enough information. His sharp eyes gleamed with a calculating light. The sixth calamity was only a small stepping stone. With these resources, he could lay a strong foundation for the future battles to come.
From the righteous path to demon immortals, from Heaven's Will to Shadow Sect, from his own clones to the schemes of Heavenly Court, it seemed like the entire world was arrayed against him. But Fang Yuan was undeterred.
Each trial was an opportunity.
He would continue to cultivate, refine, and grow stronger. He would wield his enemies' strength against them, bending even Heaven's Will to his own advantage.
The path ahead was long, but Fang Yuan had unwavering confidence that no matter the danger, he would overcome them all—and profit.
...
After Hu Immortal died, her lingering obsession did not dissipate. Instead, it merged with the heavenly power of the land, forming an unusual existence known as the land spirit. In some ways, this land spirit was a continuation of Hu Immortal's life, retaining her essence and loyalty.
Thus, the land spirit became the true representative of the Hu Immortal Blessed Land, aware of every detail, every resource, and every Gu within its borders.
Now that Fang Yuan had become the master of this blessed land, everything within it—its treasures, its natural resources, and even the land spirit itself—belonged to him. The entire blessed land, in all its glory, was now his domain.
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Ch 14: The Same Bad Situation
The Hu Immortal land spirit continued with her detailed introduction, "Currently, there are about a thousand groups of foxes living here, including red foxes, golden foxes, cloud foxes, wind foxes, autumn foxes, flowing light foxes, and more. The three largest groups each contain approximately eight hundred thousand foxes, making a total of around four million seven hundred thousand foxes."
Fang Yuan listened intently, nodding thoughtfully.
With three myriad fox groups, the land boasted three myriad beast kings. However, the development of these beasts had not yet reached the level of creating a beast emperor. Beasts were classified simply from low to high: hundred beast king, thousand beast king, myriad beast king, and beast emperor. For instance, Ba Huang and Ying Ming, two beast emperors from the three kings inheritance, possessed battle strength on par with rank five Gu Masters and were able to temporarily block the advances of Mo Wu Tian and Xiao Mang.
"There are many fox groups, but they're all common foxes, with no mutated beasts among them," Fang Yuan mused inwardly.
Ordinary beasts were not as valuable as their mutated counterparts. For example, a thunder boar far surpasses a regular boar, and a lion mastiff holds more value than a wild dog. Beyond mutated beasts were desolate beasts, and above them were ancient desolate and immemorial desolate beasts. The violent blood dragon bat of Song Zi Xing was an ancient desolate beast, one of the nine true inheritances of Ancestor Blood Sea. Immemorial desolate beasts, like the legendary nine-tailed fox, were described in The Legends of Ren Zu.
Fang Yuan had planned to develop the Hu Immortal blessed land for his first Rank 9 Gu.
The land spirit continued, "There were once many more fox groups in the blessed land—at least three times the current number. However, the second earthly calamity caused a meteor fire rain that devastated the eastern area, killing hundreds of thousands of foxes and leaving the flames still burning today. The fourth earthly calamity brought a massive flood that submerged much of the northern grassland, resulting in even more deaths among the foxes. That's why only this many remain."
As she spoke, she waved her hand, and smoke formed images of the eastern and northern parts of the land.
The eastern region was a wasteland of dust and smoke, with meteoric craters scattered about. Black flames burned around the craters, emitting a silent but fearsome aura. The northern part was engulfed in dark, endless rain, with flooded waters carrying bits of destroyed flora and floating fox corpses.
The destructive power of an earthly calamity was immense, with countless types that were nearly impossible to predict or prepare for. Every decade, these calamities threatened the blessed land. Hu Immortal had defended against five such calamities before succumbing to her fate, and the damage from previous calamities remained unresolved. The loss was severe: the blessed land originally spanned 4000 km², but the northern and eastern regions had been destroyed, resulting in a loss of over 1300 km².
The land spirit then revealed even more troubling news.
"Master, the greatest trouble is this." She gestured, and the scene shifted to reveal a scorched black prairie with a human figure composed entirely of blue lightning, sitting cross-legged.
The figure was strikingly luminous but emitted an overwhelming and terrifying power.
"Even though I knew about this, seeing it—this is the earth calamity known as the Blue Charm Lightning Shadow!" Fang Yuan inhaled sharply.
This lightning figure, one of the earth calamities, was extremely powerful, rivaling a rank six Gu Immortal in strength. Fang Yuan deduced that this lightning shadow was likely the cause of Hu Immortal's death. An enslavement path Gu Master like Hu Immortal, despite controlling many fox groups, would have been easily subdued by such a formidable opponent. The lightning shadow's presence meant that Hu Immortal had likely faced it in close combat, resulting in her demise.
"Master, please exercise caution when you move around. This lightning shadow roams randomly across the land, avoiding only Dang Hun Mountain," the land spirit warned, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke.
"This lightning is an earth calamity but also a living entity. Since it has a soul, it is repelled by Dang Hun Mountain due to its shockwave capabilities," Fang Yuan reflected.
"Are there any other bad news? Please tell me everything now." He inquired, knowing that's all
The Hu Immortal Blessed Land faced imminent crisis, with internal and external threats both severe.
The land spirit shook her head. "I've already shared the worst of it. The remaining news is good news."
Firstly, in the southern part of the blessed land, there was a tribe of Rockmen, a type of variant human who lived underground and consumed ore.
Secondly, the blessed land contained abundant immortal essence.
The land spirit led Fang Yuan to the palace within Dang Hun Mountain, where an enormous golden bowl brimmed with green immortal essence. Most of the essence had naturally congealed into a ball resembling a grape. This green grape immortal essence, available only to rank six Gu Immortals, was a significant resource. It represented a level of immortal essence production typically achieved by a Gu Immortal's aperture, correlating to the grade of their blessed land.
Advancing to Rank 6 the newly formed immortal aperture would cease to produce primeval essence and instead start producing green grape immortal essence beads. Every newly advanced rank 6 Gu Immortal will receive some green grape immortal essence beads.
After advancing to Rank 7 the immortal aperture would instead start producing red date immortal essence beads.
1 red date immortal essence bead is equal to 100 green grape immortal essence beads.
After advancing to Rank 8 the immortal aperture would instead start producing white litchi immortal essence beads.
1 white litchi immortal essence bead is equal to 100 red date immortal essence beads.
After advancing to Rank 9 the immortal aperture would instead start producing yellow apricot immortal essence beads.
1 yellow apricot immortal essence bead is equal to 100 white litchi immortal essence beads.
SO
One bead of green grape immortal essence is equivalent to 1 immortal essence stone.
One bead of red date immortal essence is equivalent to 100 immortal essence stone.
One bead of white litchi immortal essence is equivalent to 10,000 immortal essence stone.
One bead of yellow apricot immortal essence is equivalent to 1,000,000 immortal essence stone.
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Ch 15: Something Strange
(I have been preparing for something from the first chapter and likewise this chapter too.)
(Hint: Did you feel something is wrong in the MC? )
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Fang Yuan stood quietly, surveying the Hu Immortal Blessed Land, his mind filled with thoughts of a grand future. A rare sense of ease settled over him, knowing that everything was now firmly in his control. Nothing could catch him off guard.
"I need to solve its problems," he muttered, "but before that, I'll count my gains. Only by fully understanding my resources can I utilize them to the fullest."
His first and most valuable gain was the Fixed Immortal Travel Gu—a crucial component of many future plans.
Second, there was the Divine Travel Gu. Although it wasn't as potent as the Fixed Immortal Travel, it was still a rank six space-type immortal Gu—extremely useful.
Third came the False Second Aperture Gu. It was another significant asset. Now that he possessed the Divine Travel Gu, Fang Yuan could consider refining the False Second Aperture Gu without fear of losing it.
Finally, there were the numerous Relic Gu and Lifespan Gu he had accumulated, along with an abundance of precious Gu materials. These were a massive fortune in themselves, carefully preserved rather than squandered during refinement.
As he took stock of all his acquisitions, Fang Yuan's gaze returned to his blessed land. Despite its issues, it was still an enormous gain, especially with Dang Hun Mountain—the most valuable treasure. It was the best place for soul cultivation. The mountain absorbed the scattered soul fragments of living beings that perished on it, creating Gutstones, from which Guts Gu could be harvested. Guts Gu were invaluable for strengthening a Gu Master's soul.
"As long as I continue consuming Guts Gu," Fang Yuan thought, "my soul's foundation will grow to an unimaginable level. What immense wealth!"
Every mortal rank had four levels: Initial, Middle, Upper, and Peak. Fang Yuan was currently a Rank 4 Upper-stage Gu Master. Sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, his full attention was focused on his aperture.
He possessed an extraordinary ninety percent aptitude, classified as A-grade. Each rank of Gu Master had distinct primeval essences: rank one had green copper, rank two had red iron, rank three had white silver, rank four had yellow gold, and rank five had purple crystal primeval essence.
"It's time to enhance my cultivation," Fang Yuan declared, taking out his Rank 4 Yellow Golden Relic Gu.
Upon using it, his cultivation immediately surged to Rank 4 Peak-stage.
"Next, I'll break through to Rank 5," he thought excitedly.
Two days later, Fang Yuan was using primeval stones to replenish his essence. He nurtured the aperture walls, preparing to break through to the next stage. Throughout this period, he cultivated relentlessly, not wasting a single moment. Finally, he felt the breakthrough—his aura now exuding the power of a Rank 5 Gu Master.
"Hahaha! Feeling my power increase like this—it's addictive!" he laughed.
"But I'm not done yet."
Taking out three Rank 5 Purple Crystal Relic Gu from his collection, Fang Yuan used two, immediately advancing to Rank 5 Upper-stage. Without pause, he consumed the third.
The surge from the relic Gu brought his cultivation to Rank 5 Peak-stage.
In an astonishingly short span, Fang Yuan had jumped from Rank 4 Upper-stage to Rank 5 Peak-stage, an incredible leap. The best part was that relic Gu had no side effects, meaning his foundation remained stable and strong.
Gu Masters heavily relied on resources for cultivation. With enough resources, rapid advancements were possible. In theory, as long as one had enough relic Gu, they could advance their cultivation at lightning speed. But in practice, such resources were exceedingly rare—even large factions seldom took this path, preferring to temper the minds of younger generations.
"With a Rank 5 Peak-stage aperture, the pressure from the Spring Autumn Cicada has greatly reduced. I won't need to worry about it for a while. Perhaps I'll even reach immortality soon."
Fang Yuan felt a wave of pride wash over him. "Now, I stand at the peak of the mortal world."
...
Just as he was about to rise, dizziness struck him, followed by a sharp pain in his head.
"Didn't I heal my soul injury? What's going on?" Panic surged through Fang Yuan's mind. He had thought everything was under control.
"A.I., scan my body!" he commanded, hoping for clarity.
[Beep! Scan complete. Status: Healthy.]
"What?" Fang Yuan frowned. "Then scan my mind!"
[Beep! Scan complete! No foreign entities found in the host's mind. Everything appears normal.]
Even after the scan, Fang Yuan was at a loss. He didn't know what could be wrong. After a while, he managed to calm himself down.
"It seems I was too mentally drained," he concluded, "but the real issue is likely the weakness of my soul. If my soul were stronger, this wouldn't have happened."
With his immediate plans to address the blessed land's problems delayed, Fang Yuan prioritized his soul's improvement.
"Little Hu, take me to the Gutstones' locations, one by one."
Thus, Fang Yuan embarked on enhancing his soul strength, preparing himself for the challenges ahead.
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Ch 16: Dealing with Problems
…
Fang Yuan broke the final Gutstone and smiled in satisfaction.
Right now, he felt an immense sense of comfort; his soul had strengthened threefold! A surge of power radiated from deep within his heart. This newfound strength was not just physical but deeply spiritual. Fang Yuan felt he could accomplish anything effortlessly, whether it was analyzing problems or multitasking.
"Unfortunately, there are only over a hundred Gutstones on Dang Hun Mountain, and not all of them contained Guts Gu," Fang Yuan mused, a hint of regret in his voice.
When Hu Immortal acquired Dang Hun Mountain, it had already changed hands multiple times and was nearly depleted. Hu Immortal had moved it to the blessed land and managed it for decades. Each year, she sacrificed large numbers of foxes to irrigate the mountain, creating Gutstones. However, these were mostly consumed by Hu Immortal. After her death, the remaining Gutstones, accumulated over the past eight years, were now all used up by Fang Yuan.
According to the Hu Immortal Land Spirit, nearly ten thousand foxes were required to produce a single Gutstone. The more powerful the beast kings sacrificed, the more Gutstones were created.
"Now, I can relax and plan for the future," Fang Yuan said calmly.
"First, I need to deal with the Blue Charm Lightning Shadow. It's a hidden danger that needs to be addressed but I don't currently have the strength to destroy it."
"To resolve this threat, I need to act swiftly. dealing with it now will save me considerable time in the future and allow me to focus on other matters."
"To ensure I'm proceeding correctly, A.I., simulate the optimal strategy to deal with the Blue Charm Lightning Shadow."
...
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One Month Later
Over the past month, Fang Yuan had been preparing a lot of killer moves and increasing his strength with the help of the A.I. Chip.
He was now ready to deal with the problems of the blessed land.
"There must be many people waiting outside, hoping to gain from my situation or just to send messages," Fang Yuan thought.
"It's time to act."
"Little Hu, transfer me to the east area and follow the orders I gave you."
"Y-yes, master. Please be careful," Little Hu replied, her big eyes red and teary, showing her deep concern.
The next moment, Fang Yuan appeared in the east area. The second earthly calamity had devastated this region, leaving it in ruins with unextinguished dark flames.
Fang Yuan deployed the killer moves he had prepared to defend against the fire. While shielding himself, he used another move to make his presence stand out, like a light in the darkness of the blessed land.
And then he waited....
Suddenly, a fierce lightning bolt struck the area where he was standing.
Boom!
The lightning transformed into a human-shaped shadow, emitting a deafening roar.
This was the Blue Charm Lightning Shadow!
...
Inside Dang Hun Palace, Fang Yuan's face went ashen as he witnessed the destruction of his previous location. If not for the land spirit's immediate teleportation, he might have perished.
Little Hu Immortal, her face pale and trembling, patted her chest, relieved but still scared.
The Blue Charm Lightning Shadow, enraged by its failed attack, attempted to leave the east area.
"Little Hu, cut off the surrounding area around the Blue Charm Lightning Shadow and the meteor fire," Fang Yuan ordered.
Reacting swiftly, Little Hu Immortal severed 500 square kilometers of the blessed land, trapping the Blue Charm Lightning Shadow.
"Success!" Fang Yuan exclaimed in joy.
"W-why did we have to sacrifice so much?" Little Hu sobbed, tears streaming down her face. "The blessed land has become smaller, and so much immortal essence has been lost…"
Land spirits, being representatives of the blessed land, viewed such actions as cutting off a part of their own flesh. Abandoning such a vast area was akin to losing a limb.
With the area now reduced to 3,500 km², the loss was substantial.
"Don't cry. As Itold you before, This was the only way to eliminate the hidden danger. Otherwise, the entire blessed land could have been destroyed," Fang Yuan said, trying to console the spirit.
"What should we do now, Master?" Little Hu asked, feeling lost.
Fang Yuan remained silent, his expression cold.
"I need more strength!" he thought with clenched fists, feeling a surge of frustration. Despite his progress, facing real dangers still left him feeling inadequate. The thought of facing the Shadow Sect, Heaven's Will, or the Heavenly Court filled him with concern.
"Then continue to grow. Continue to become stronger, stronger, and even stronger!"
"I need to get some rest. Little Hu, manage the blessed land well and ensure no one enters."
"Understood, master. You can rest assured that everything will be taken care of," Little Hu responded, her voice brightening as she began to move past the painful loss.
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Ch 17: News From Outside
Fang Yuan slept for six hours, and when he woke, he felt completely rejuvenated. His mind was clear, his body refreshed, and his condition was optimal.
"Where's the land spirit?" He stomped his foot, calling for her.
In an instant, Little Hu Immortal tore through space with a swoosh and appeared before him.
"Master, I've managed the blessed land well, and no one has entered!" Little Hu Immortal's face flushed with pride, clearly satisfied at having completed his orders.
"Good job," Fang Yuan said, noticing how she beamed with joy at his praise.
"Oh right, master! There are three letters here; they were sent through the loophole," Little Hu Immortal added, taking out three Gu worms and handing them to Fang Yuan.
When loopholes grow large enough to become tunnels, people can enter and exit. But before that, only Gu worms can pass through the small gaps. Cutting off the east area had caused this loophole.
The three Gu worms were all from the letter type Gu. One was the rank three lightning symbol paper crane Gu, another was the rank five letter sending green bird Gu, and the third was a rank three flying sword letter Gu.
Fang Yuan glanced at the three letters, a smile forming on his face. "Fate... Even though I cut the land months earlier than in the original timeline, there are still three letters." He sighed at the mysterious force of fate.
He first took out the green bird Gu. The bird transformed into a letter—it was from the rank seven Gu Immortal, Feng Jiu Ge!
Fang Yuan wasn't surprised. The moment he saw the green bird Gu, he knew it was him.
In his letter, Feng Jiu Ge's tone was calm. He first expressed admiration for Fang Yuan before stating his purpose: he wanted to arrange a battle between Fang Yuan and his daughter, Feng Jin Huang!
It seemed that ever since Feng Jin Huang returned to Spirit Affinity House, she had been moody and dispirited. During this time, she had cultivated diligently to reclaim her pride. The battle was initiated by her—she wanted a fair fight with Fang Yuan, betting the glory of both Spirit Affinity House and Immortal Crane Sect!
"Feng Jiu Ge is an important person. I will give him a reply," Fang Yuan mused, though a playful smile tugged at his lips.
Next, he retrieved the flying sword letter Gu.
Opening it, he saw that it was another challenge letter. But this one was filled with curses and insults—every ancestor of Fang Yuan's was mentioned, and even Immortal Crane Sect's honor was used to provoke him into accepting the battle. Finally, the letter threatened that if Fang Yuan didn't agree, the sender would reveal the contents to the public, tarnishing his reputation as a coward.
Fang Yuan glanced over it carefully, a light smile appearing on his face. "Oh, it's this rascal Jian Yi Sheng."
Jian Yi Sheng was a metal and sword path Gu Immortal from Central Continent. He was a demonic cultivator from Tian Ti Mountain, infamous for being a devious coward.
In Fang Yuan's 500-year memories, he had been ambushed by Jian Yi Sheng many times. Eventually, Fang Yuan summoned the blood sea to retaliate, forcing Jian Yi Sheng to hide in his blessed land, too terrified to fight. Fang Yuan blocked him for twenty years until Jian Yi Sheng finally realized he had angered the wrong person. Unable to endure the pressure any longer, Jian Yi Sheng knelt before Fang Yuan in surrender, completely abandoning any dignity as a Gu Immortal.
As for why Jian Yi Sheng was challenging Fang Yuan now, it was pure misfortune.
After Fang Yuan discarded part of his blessed land and sent the blue charm lightning shadow toward Tian Ti Mountain, Jian Yi Sheng saw it as opportunity and tried to swallow it.
FLASHBACK
"Hahaha! What a huge piece of blessed land! It's mine! Don't even think of snatching it from me!" Jian Yi Sheng shouted, filled with greed as he attempted to pull the newly discarded land into his own blessed land, hoping to expand his territory.
Suddenly, a flash of lightning streaked across the sky.
"F*ck!" Jian Yi Sheng cursed. Caught off guard, he was struck by the blue charm lightning shadow and sent flying like a cannonball.
"That little rascal Fang Yuan... he's truly evil and daring! Scheming against me like this! Fight me fairly if you have any guts!" He roared in anger, his pride wounded, as he sent out the flying sword letter Gu.
At the time, even though he was a Gu Immortal, Jian Yi Sheng had no Immortal Gu in his possession, and the blue charm lightning shadow had thrashed him thoroughly. After a pitiful escape back to his blessed land, he finally managed to rid himself of the lightning shadow, but not without severe losses.
Furious and humiliated, Jian Yi Sheng tallied his losses, his rage intensifying. When he discovered that Fang Yuan was behind the incident, he sent the flying sword letter Gu, challenging him to a duel.
Present
"Hmph, he knows I'm a mortal, yet he still challenged me as a Gu Immortal. And he had the audacity to write his letter as if it were righteous, prattling on about fairness… What a shameless piece of trash. But from his letter, it's clear he believes I'm from Immortal Crane Sect," Fang Yuan mused with a mocking smile.
Fang Yuan smirked, amused. "My dear brother He Feng Yang is certainly doing his best for me."
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Ch 18: Fang Zheng
Fang Yuan finally opened the lightning symbol paper crane Gu.
"He Feng Yang from Immortal Crane Sect is a smart person," Fang Yuan thought aloud. "If it were anyone else, he might have succeeded in his schemes."
He chuckled coldly. "He even wants me to join the Immortal Crane Sect? Bold, but predictable."
"I still need his sect's cover for now, so I'll play along for a while. Make a few transactions, give them some hope. But the real problem... is my blood brother, Fang Zheng."
Fang Yuan's gaze darkened as he pondered the dilemma. "I only have two choices when it comes to him. First, I could kill him outright," he considered. "But that could backfire... Fang Zheng isn't just a member of Immortal Crane Sect. He's a weapon crafted by the Heaven's Will itself, specifically against me."
He sighed and weighed the second option. "Or I could follow the original plot and refine the Blood Deity Immortal Gu. turning him into a 'Blood Deity.'"
The Blood Deity Immortal Gu was designed to transform blood relatives into loyal beings called Blood Deities, but the process severed previous connections. it's a powerful Gu but The blood relatives original thoughts and emotions would still influence the newly created Blood Deity.
"Even if there was no problem," Fang Yuan mused, "Then by the time I can refine the Blood Deity, I'll likely have mastered the method of creating clones. I won't need this Gu anymore. Besides, it's only a Rank 6 Gu—hardly worth the effort."
For a while, he fell into deep thought, his mind racing through possible outcomes and strategies.
...
Meanwhile, at Tian Ti Mountain...
The towering Tian Ti Mountain stood high above the clouds. At its foot, the elite disciples of Immortal Crane Sect had been waiting for hours, growing restless.
"How much longer are we supposed to wait?" one disciple grumbled.
"This Fang Yuan is really putting on airs, isn't he?"
"Quiet!" another hissed. "He's the brother of Gu Yue Fang Zheng, the owner of Hu Immortal Blessed Land!"
"I've heard that brother of Fang Zheng's is incredible. He defeated Feng Jin Huang, Xiao Qi Xing, Ying Sheng Ji, and others."
"So what?" another disciple sneered. "With a supreme elder helping him in secret, using the Fixed Immortal Travel Gu, even I could've won the blessed land."
"Our clan's elders are wise," another chimed in. "Using Fang Zheng as a decoy while Fang Yuan was the real trump card all along."
Their conversations did not escape Fang Zheng's ears. Standing at the front of the group, his gaze was fixed on the peak of Tian Ti Mountain, his expression dim.
In these recent days, Fang Zheng felt like a walking corpse, unable to shake off the weight of his failure.
After leaving Qing Mao Mountain, he had sworn revenge on his brother Fang Yuan, vowing to bring justice for their deceased clansmen. That burning hatred had been the force driving him to cultivate harder than anyone else, never allowing himself to slack for even a second.
Countless times, Fang Zheng had fantasized about the day he would face Fang Yuan, defeating him, making him kneel and repent for his crimes on Qing Mao Mountain. He had imagined the satisfaction of avenging his fallen clansmen.
Even on Dang Hun Mountain, despite moments of near-collapse, his hatred for Fang Yuan had kept him going. It had pushed him to continue climbing, no matter how grueling the journey.
He had wanted the Hu Immortal Inheritance—not just for his master or the clan's expectations, but because it would give him the strength to exact his revenge.
But fate had dealt him a cruel blow.
The day Fang Yuan appeared atop the mountain, seizing the inheritance in full view of the entire sect, even the Gu Immortals had been powerless to stop him.
Fang Zheng had failed, returning to the sect empty-handed.
Shock. Pain. Loss. Fear.
The truth hit him like a landslide, and it only worsened the shadow in his heart—a shadow that had been growing ever since his childhood.
"Why is my brother so smart? Why am I always so foolish?"
"Why is it that despite all my efforts, I still lost to Fang Yuan?"
"Is it true that I, Gu Yue Fang Zheng, am destined to live in his shadow forever, never surpassing him?"
His thoughts darkened, and a cold shudder ran through his body when he remembered the mission given to him by the sect.
The blessed land was now in Fang Yuan's control. To secure the Hu Immortal Blessed Land, the sect was negotiating with Fang Yuan, even offering him a position as an elder if he agreed to hand it over.
Within the sect, disciples were ranked from low to high: outer disciple, inner disciple, elite disciple, legacy disciple. Above them were sect elders, typically at Rank 4, and above them, the supreme elders—powerful Gu Immortals.
Since joining Immortal Crane Sect, Fang Zheng had worked tirelessly, climbing from outer disciple to elite disciple. He had emerged as the top disciple during the last examination. Yet now, with just a single word from Fang Yuan, his brother would become a sect elder, commanding respect from every disciple.
Every time Fang Zheng thought about it, a sharp pain pierced his heart.
If Fang Yuan truly became an elder, Fang Zheng would have to bow to him—his sworn enemy—every time they crossed paths. What kind of life would that be? How could he find any meaning in it?
Lord Sky Crane, watching from within Fang Zheng, felt a deep sadness for his disciple. He knew all too well the weight of the sect's decision.
He recalled the words of He Feng Yang:
"I know there's enmity between Fang Yuan and Fang Zheng. If necessary, we can sacrifice Fang Zheng to negotiate. You may represent him."
The elders had cast Fang Zheng aside without a second thought.
...
Back at the Blessed Land...
Fang Yuan sat deep in thought, recalling the scene where He Feng Yang had discarded Fang Zheng in the original timeline. He knew He Feng Yang would do the same this time.
"So the real question is... what will Heaven's Will do?"
The Hu Immortal Blessed Land was now placed on Tian Ti Mountain, the number one mountain in Central Continent, a sacred land known for inheritances and its connection to the Heavenly Court. No Gu Immortal dared to attack it recklessly—the Heavenly Court, or more precisely Star Constellation's Will, protected it as part of Heaven's Will.
Fang Yuan's eyes grew deep with thought, strategizing his next move.
Suddenly, he smiled, an excited gleam in his eyes.
"Land spirit," he called. "Go, open the blessed land slightly... and let the Gu Master who looks like me enter."
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Ch 19: To Kill or Not to Kill
...
Tian Ti Mountain
At this time, a brilliant white-gold light flashed, and from within the radiance, a red door, 30 meters tall, emerged. A rainbow-colored plaque adorned it, and pink clouds gathered overhead as rainbow light bathed Fang Zheng's body. In an instant, he vanished from his spot.
Sending blue charm lightning shadow out of the blessed land was hard on little Hu .But to transfer one Fang Zheng, it was very easy.
"He's in!" He Feng Yang's heart finally relaxed.
Just as a bolt of lightning descended from the sky, intending to enter the blessed land, the red door shifted away in time.
The blue charm lightning shadow's intention of entering the blessed land was obvious.
...
..
Fang Zheng's surroundings blurred, and when his vision cleared, the landscape had entirely changed.
He now stood on a vast grassland, surrounded by endless greenery. Above, thick, dark clouds churned in the sky. Nearby, several lakes shimmered, their surfaces rippling gently.
"I've arrived... Hu Immortal Blessed Land," Fang Zheng murmured, quickly realizing his Gu worms were sealed, just as they had been during the competition.
Before him, a smoky shadow condensed into a mirror-sized shape. Fang Yuan's figure materialized within the reflection, casually sitting back in his chair. His right leg crossed over his left, one hand resting on his knee, and the other gently supporting his chin. His black hair hung loosely over his face, partly covering his cold, calculating eyes. His posture was relaxed, yet an undeniable sense of danger radiated from him.
"My dear little brother, what a surprise to see you here in Central Continent," Fang Yuan spoke in a calm, almost lazy tone.
The voice was familiar, yet Fang Zheng felt a chill run down his spine.
Overcome with fury, Fang Zheng's body trembled. "Fang Yuan, you're nothing but a monstrous demon! You murdered our entire clan! I will kill you with my own hands!" he roared, rushing toward the image in blind rage.
But before he could advance a single step, he was bound in place, unable to move.
"Coward!" Fang Zheng spat. "You don't even have the guts to face me properly? Hiding behind your tricks like the lowly creature you are! You slaughtered our entire clan just to save yourself! Are you even human anymore?!"
"Hehehe…" Fang Yuan chuckled darkly, leaning back further into his chair. "Oh, my dear brother, they were going to die regardless of what I did. Actually, You should be grateful—if I hadn't fought back, do you think you would've made it to Central Continent? In a twisted way, I saved your life. You owe me thanks."
Fang Zheng's chest was moving up and down, his breathing was heavy as he stared at Fang Yuan's image with hatred.
"Well, it's not you I'm interested in talking to," Fang Yuan sighed. "Little Hu, unseal the Spirit Incubating Flea Gu inside my brother."
The Spirit Incubating Flea was a soul path Gu, used as a life extension method. It allowed a Gu Master to store their soul within the Gu after death.
For Fang Zheng, this Gu housed the spirit of Lord Sky Crane, his master who had supported him all these years.
As the Gu unsealed, Lord Sky Crane materialized, looking startled. "How… how did you know?"
Fang Yuan smiled coldly but didn't respond. "Does it really matter now?"
Sky Crane composed himself, attempting to regain control of the situation. "You could become an elder in the sect—"
"Stop." Fang Yuan cut him off, his voice sharp. "I've already seen the letter from Immortal Crane Sect. Don't waste your breath on these empty promises of making me an elder. However, I am willing to negotiate some deals with you."
Sky Crane frowned but nodded. "We can negotiate. We want—"
"But there's a problem," Fang Yuan interrupted again. "I don't trust your sect's sincerity. Sending Fang Zheng, knowing the hatred he harbors for me, what are your true intentions?"
Sky Crane looked speechless , he didn't even complete a sentence. But still replied "Then what is it that you want?"
"I want my dear brother to stay here," Fang Yuan's voice was calm, but his eyes gleamed with malice. "And I want your sect to expel him. Get rid of him so he doesn't cause any further issues."
Fang Zheng's face paled as fear gripped him, memories of the past flashing before his eyes.
Sky Crane's face twisted in anger. "That's impossible! Fang Zheng is a disciple of Immortal Crane Sect. We don't abandon our own!"
Fang Yuan was looking playful " no need to say such a righteous words, speaking of which aren't you planning to take over the body of Fang Zheng after destroying his soul."
Fang Yuan's smile was playful yet sinister, the corners of his lips curling up in a way that sent a chill down Sky Crane's spine. "No need for such righteous words," Fang Yuan's voice was calm, but it carried an unmistakable edge. "After all, aren't you planning to take over his body after swallowing his soul?"
Fang Zheng flinched, his mind racing with disbelief. "I can't believe this demon's words! Master would never do such a thing!"
Sky Crane faltered, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes before he regained his composure. "If I had wanted to do that, I would have taken over his body long ago."
Fang Yuan nodded slightly. "True, you didn't. But that's only because his body was your second choice. You've always wanted mine—after all, with my Rank A aperture and the heritage of some Rank 5 Gu Masters, not to mention the Blood Sea Ancestor's inheritance, who wouldn't want it?"
Sky Crane's calm shattered, his face paling as his mouth hung open in shock. "How… how could you know all of this?!"
Fang Yuan's gaze turned colder as he watched Sky Crane's disbelief. "I know more than you can imagine"
Sky Crane's spirit flickered, betraying a hint of fear. He couldn't comprehend Fang Yuan—how could this demon know everything? From the start, it seemed Sky Crane was merely a puppet dancing in Fang Yuan's hands.
Fang Zheng, equally shocked, struggled to accept what he was hearing. He turned to his master, his eyes pleading for an explanation, desperately clinging to the hope that Fang Yuan's accusations were lies.
"I'll make this simple for you," Fang Yuan's voice cut through the silence, calm but carrying an unmistakable edge of threat. "Fang Zheng stays and I can strike a deal, or I'll seal the blessed land permanently. At worst, I'll use my Fixed Immortal Travel Gu to disappear to a safe place, all while making sure Immortal Crane Sect's dirty schemes spread far and wide."
At this moment, Sky Crane's heart was filled by fear of Fang Yuan and he recalled He Feng Yang's cold instructions: "I understand the enmity between Fang Yuan and Fang Zheng. If necessary, we can sacrifice Fang Zheng. You will negotiate on his behalf!"
Guilt washed over Sky Crane. He truly cared for this disciple, and the thought of taking over Fang Zheng's body had been fading in his mind. Yet now, trapped by Fang Yuan's words and bound by He Feng Yang's orders, he felt cornered. His hands were tied, and there was no way to save Fang Zheng from this situation.
Avoiding his disciple's gaze, Sky Crane spoke softly, his voice heavy with resignation. "We can make a deal."
Fang Yuan's lips curled into a chilling smile. "Good choice. That's exactly what I was hoping for." His tone was light, almost mocking. "The details are in the letter. Return and let He Feng Yang see for himself."
He turned his gaze slightly. "Little Hu, send this letter Gu and the Spirit Incubating Flea Gu to He Feng Yang, the Rank 6 Immortal Gu Master waiting outside."
Little Hu, took action and the next moment a faint glow enveloped her small, fox-like body as she guided the letter Gu and Spirit Incubating Flea Gu through the air. In mere moments, the Gu worms passed through the blessed land's boundary, vanishing into the void beyond.
Fang Yuan leaned back into his chair, watching with a sharp, calculating gaze. "It's done."
"Now, let's deal with my dear brother"
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Ch 20: The Feng Family
Outside the blessed Land
He Feng Yang stood in anticipation, keenly observing the entrance for any signs of Fang Yuan's response or any opportunity to enter the blessed land if Fang Yuan showed even the slightest lapse in vigilance.
Suddenly, a small hole appeared, and two Gu worms shot out rapidly, heading directly toward He Feng Yang. Before he could react, the hole closed swiftly, leaving no trace of its presence.
He Feng Yang's eyes narrowed as he examined the Gu worms. His expression darkened with recognition. "Sky Crane?" he muttered, realizing that one of the Gu worms was the one containing his follower's soul.
He Feng Yang activated the communication function of the Gu worm and demanded sternly, "Sky Crane, explain what has happened there. What happened inside the blessed land?"
...
Central Continent, at Spirit Affinity House
Feng Jiu Ge sat with his wife, Fairy Bai Qing, and daughter, Feng Jin Huang, sipping tea. His usual composed expression softened into a smile as he spoke, "You've finally calmed down, Feng'er."
"Yes, Father," Feng Jin Huang replied, her voice steady and serene, as if the impulsive outbursts of before had never existed. "I've come to realize I was overthinking the situation too much."
Feng Jiu Ge nodded approvingly, a trace of pride in his eyes. "Good. And to settle things, I've sent Fang Yuan a challenge letter."
He paused for a moment, smiling slightly, as if savoring the words he was about to say next. "He's already replied."
Feng Jin Huang and Fairy Bai Qing both leaned forward, curious to hear the contents of Fang Yuan's reply. Feng Jin Huang, in particular, was already guessing that it might be an apology or perhaps even a surrender in response to the challenge.
But the next moment, Feng Jiu Ge's expression shifted abruptly. His face darkened as he read the letter, his eyes widening in disbelief. He remained speechless, staring at the Letter Green Bird Gu in his hands as if unsure how anyone could have written such words.
Seeing his reaction, both Feng Jin Huang and Fairy Bai Qing grew more curious. Fairy Bai Qing asked cautiously, "Husband, what was written in the letter?"
Feng Jiu Ge stayed silent for a moment, as if struggling to find the words, then handed the letter to his wife, deciding it was better for them to read it themselves.
Feng Jin Huang and Fairy Bai Qing read through the letter together, their expressions shifting from curiosity to disbelief:
"Feng Jiu Ge, I, Fang Yuan, have admired your name for a long time.
I have read your message, and I feel deeply wronged.
Firstly, the blessed land was won through fair and rightful means.
Secondly, regarding the situation with Miss Feng Jin Huang:
The person responsible for the situation is none other than Miss Feng Jin Huang herself.
She has been shamelessly staring at my body and my private belongings.
Sometimes, I feel I have no face left to meet anyone anymore after her actions.
I was a pure man, and no woman had ever behaved this way toward me before.
Though it may seem trivial to Miss Feng, it concerns my body, which I have always protected.
Therefore, I demand that Miss Feng Jin Huang take responsibility for her actions.
She must take responsibility for me, or I will have no will to live any longer."
...
The silence that followed was deafening. The Feng family sat in stunned disbelief, unable to process what they had just read.
Feng Jin Huang's face flushed bright red in utter outrage. "W-What?!" she stammered, her voice shaking. "That shameless demon! How could he… how could he twist things like this?"
Her indignation quickly turned to fury. Feng Jin Huang stood up abruptly, her hands clenched into fists. "Father! I won't let this go! I'll personally go to Fang Yuan and make him pay for this insult!"
Fairy Bai Qing, seeing her daughter's rage, gently tugged at Feng Jin Huang's sleeve, trying to calm her down. "Feng'er, don't let him provoke you like this. Can't you see? This is exactly what he wants. He's playing with your emotions." She gave a soft chuckle, her lips curving into a wry smile. "Perhaps… he's trying to marry into our family."
"What?!" Feng Jin Huang's eyes widened in shock. "Mother, no! I would never allow that! He's a vile demon! I'll kill him with my own hands before that ever happens!"
Fairy Bai Qing shook her head, maintaining her calm demeanor. "That's exactly what he's hoping for, Feng'er. He wants to draw you out. Be careful—this man is far more dangerous than he seems."
Feng Jiu Ge, who had remained silent throughout, finally raised his hand, signaling for quiet. His face was as composed as ever, but there was a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Enough, Feng'er. Fang Yuan is not someone to be taken lightly. You'll stay put until we've fully investigated him."
His voice grew colder as he continued, "But now I see his true nature. If he believes he can toy with us, he's sorely mistaken. It's only a pity that he's not yet an immortal. If he were, I would have gone to deal with him myself."
Fairy Bai Qing's eyes flickered with concern. "Husband, what do you plan to do?"
Feng Jiu Ge's lips curled into a slight smirk, his voice steady. "While I can't deal with Fang Yuan directly yet, I can certainly send a message to his sect's immortals. Like He Feng Yang… those who stand behind Fang Yuan. They think they can shelter him, but they'll learn the hard way not to mess with our family."
(Poor He Feng Yang)
Fairy Bai Qing nodded thoughtfully. "It's true. If Fang Yuan is under the Immortal Crane Sect's protection, then his actions reflect poorly on them. Making an example of their immortals would send a clear message."
Feng Jin Huang, still seething with anger, reluctantly sat down, though her resolve hadn't wavered. "Father, when the time comes… I want to deal with Fang Yuan myself"
(Poor Feng Jin Huang.)
Feng Jiu Ge gave her a reassuring look, his voice calm yet firm. "Don't worry, Feng'er. Fang Yuan isn't a problem."
He took a sip of tea, his expression unshaken. "No matter what heights he reaches in the future, I will easily crush him if the time comes."
(Poor Feng Jiu Ge.)
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Ch 21: Finalizing
...
Hu Immortal Blessed Land
Fang Yuan sat in deep contemplation, his gaze distant as he thought about Fang Zheng.
Heaven's Will had always sought to destroy Spectral Soul Demon Venerable's grand plan, and Fang Yuan was the key. Despite being used as a pawn in this scheme, Fang Yuan, as an otherworldly demon, remained the ultimate variable. Heaven's Will, understanding this, had placed a counter for him—Fang Zheng. In essence, Fang Zheng had become Fang Yuan's nemesis, a pawn carefully Placed by Heaven's Will to oppose him.
In the future, Fang Zheng would create a powerful killer move with Heaven's Will's assistance, known as Blood-Kin Heart Revenge. The move, an intricate combination of Luck Path and Human Path, would unleash a thick cloud of blood that relentlessly tracked its target, even without a direct bloodline connection. Its sinister power would mark its target and continuously erode their luck, making the target vulnerable to further assaults from Heaven's Will.
"If I kill Fang Zheng now, Heaven's Will should assume I'm focused on raising my aperture's aptitude, and it would still use me as a tool against Spectral Soul Demon Venerable," Fang Yuan mused, calculating the long-term effects.
His mind sharpened, thoughts falling into place like pieces of a puzzle. "Yes, now it's clear. Let's do it."
A cold glint flashed across Fang Yuan's eyes, the decision made. Fang Zheng's death would only further Fang Yuan's goals in the grander scheme.
...
In a dark, damp cell, Fang Zheng lay on the cold ground, his body lifeless and his eyes devoid of light. He could barely remember how long he had been there. The sound of approaching footsteps broke the silence, and with effort, he lifted his head to see the figure responsible for his misery. Those cold, indifferent black eyes stared back at him.
"Fang Yuan," Fang Zheng spat, his voice weak yet clear with hate. "You... you're a beast. And that Sky Crane is no better. You're all monsters, deserving of nothing but death. Why is this happening to me? I'm the one with talent, I should be the victor, not you."
Fang Yuan remained expressionless, his gaze unmoved by his brother's outburst.
"This world... it's full of emotionless beasts like you," Fang Zheng seethed. "But mark my words, one day I'll have my revenge. One day, you'll all die."
For the first time, Fang Yuan spoke. His voice was calm, but there was a hint of something deeper—sad? "I thought I could kill you," he began, "but I can't. After all, you are my brother. I know I've done many wrong things, but I had no choice."
Fang Yuan unlocked the cell door, his face returning to that familiar mask of cold indifference. "Come with me."
Fang Zheng, though confused, slowly got up. His mind raced. I don't have to die? Good. Sooner or later, I'll have my revenge. Fang Yuan, Bai Ning Bing, Sky Crane, Immortal Crane Sect—none of you will be spared for what you've done to me.
Without a word, Fang Yuan led him out, their destination clear as they approached Dang Hun Mountain.
"What do you want to show me?" Fang Zheng asked, attempting to mask the hatred burning inside him.
Fang Yuan did not respond. He simply took out the Blood Skull Gu, his lips curling into a faint, cold smile.
"Fang Yuan... I knew it. You demon—" Before Fang Zheng could finish his words, Fang Yuan swiftly severed his head. His body crumpled to the ground as Fang Yuan calmly activated Blood Skull Gu, absorbing the blood without hesitation.
But it didn't stop there. Next, Fang Yuan extracted Fang Zheng's soul, placing it into Dang Hun Mountain to produce Guts Gu.
"Now, it's done. I've killed him, destroyed his soul, and now..." Fang Yuan's voice trailed off as he summoned a deep, dark fire. The flames engulfed Fang Zheng's fallen body, leaving nothing behind—not even ashes.
"Heaven's will won't be able to resurrect him this time. It has no counter against me now."
Fang Yuan turned, his expression devoid of any emotion. "Now, I can head to Northern Plains with ease. But before that... I need to finalize the deal with He Feng Yang."
...
Immortal Crane Sect
After knowing what happened in the blessed land, He Feng Yang had abandoned Fang Zheng already and carefully read the detailed content of the letter.
Fang Yuan had made his demands clear—Gu worms and materials in exchange for Rockmen.
Fang Yuan had solved the last issue in the blessed land—the northern flood—by using the same cruel tactics to command the Rockmen. He even used Guts Gu to create more Rockmen, which now gave him a continuous supply of gutstones. Fang Yuan was no longer selling the gutstones themselves but was trading the Rockmen he made.
"Not selling gutstones, but selling Rockmen instead?" He Feng Yang muttered, his expression grim as he processed the letter's details. The Rockmen Hu Immortal had brought into her blessed land were clearly still alive, but the sheer number Fang Yuan was now offering was staggering. "Just how many Guts Gu has he used to create them?"
The thought made He Feng Yang's heart ache.
As he continued to review Fang Yuan's requests, He Feng Yang's eyes widened in surprise. "Huh? He wants a lot of Gu worms from various paths?" Fang Yuan had listed many Rank 3 and Rank 4 Gu worms, along with countless Rank 1 and Rank 2 ones.
A smile crept onto He Feng Yang's face. "This Fang Yuan, a mere mortal, dares to ask for so much from different paths. Yet he didn't mention the Spring Egg Gu or Relic Gu. Just a rank 4 mortal trash, he doesn't know what's truly valuable. At least he knows his limits and didn't request any Rank 5 Gu."
He Feng Yang felt a wave of relief. "Well, the Hu Immortal Blessed Land will sooner or later belong to our Immortal Crane Sect. I'll throw in a few tips and three Spring Egg Gu. Maybe Fang Yuan will realize his inability and hand the blessed land over willingly. The Spring Egg Gu won't improve his power anyway and I don't want to take a damaged blessed land in the end."
With his mood significantly improved, He Feng Yang skimmed over the list again. Fang Yuan had requested an amount of Gu materials. Most of the materials were common, though a few precious Gu refinement ingredients stood out.
"Refining Gu?" He Feng Yang was amused. "Let him try. But why does he need star stones, dark stones, and these other uncommon materials?"
He pondered the situation for a moment. "Is he trying to confuse me with these requests, or is he refining rare Gu? Either way, I can't give him everything at once. I need to keep him anxious, probe his true intentions. For now, I'll only send him a single vat of ascension wine."
This particular wine was a top-quality brew made by the Immortal Crane Sect's Supreme Third Elder. Over a hundred years ago, He Feng Yang had aligned himself with the elder, and during a banquet, the Supreme Third Elder had gifted him three vats of ascension wine in a generous mood.
Though the wine was prized, He Feng Yang himself wasn't fond of drinking, so the vats had remained unused, and giving one to Fang Yuan was no loss to him.
Having made up his mind, He Feng Yang sat back, deep in thought.
"This Fang Yuan... there is too little information about him."
The mysteries surrounding Fang Yuan only grew. How had he obtained the Fixed Immortal Travel Gu? When had he refined the Divine Travel Immortal Gu? And most importantly, who was backing him? He Feng Yang didn't know the answers to these vital questions.
The five regions of the world—Central Continent, Southern Border, Northern Plains, Western Desert, and Eastern Sea—were vast and largely independent, separated by formidable barriers. Even Immortal Crane Sect had yet to fully grasp the entirety of Central Continent, let alone the other regions like Southern Border.
Yet, ever since Fang Yuan had taken Hu Immortal's inheritance, Immortal Crane Sect had already begun sending elders to Southern Border to investigate.
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Ch 22: Preparing to Leave
..
...
Fang Yuan sat comfortably, glancing through He Feng Yang's reply. With just a brief scan, he grasped the content. The deal had been agreed upon, but He Feng Yang had also added a request for guts Gu, offering rare items such as Rank 5 Relic Gu in return.
"Hahaha," Fang Yuan chuckled softly. "If only he knew I'm already a Rank 5 peak-stage Gu Master and I probably have more Relic and Lifespan Gu than he could dream of. I really wonder how he would react."
Fang Yuan was in a good mood. His plans for the Northern Plains were about to begin. The transaction with Immortal Crane Sect was beneficial, and He Feng Yang had even given him Gu worms he hadn't asked for.
"I'll remember this generous contribution of yours, He Feng Yang."
At the end of the letter, He Feng Yang proposed a time for the exchange and requested Fang Yuan to use the Hole Earth Gu to facilitate the transportation of the Rockmen. Fang Yuan had planned to sell seventy thousand Rockmen, and since they couldn't leave the Blessed Land through ordinary means, the Hole Earth Gu, a large-scale transportation Gu, was the perfect solution.
Reading this, Fang Yuan activated his flying sword letter Gu and wrote back, expressing his concerns. "I am worried that your Hole Earth Gu may contain traps. I will refine it myself."
Half a day later, He Feng Yang received Fang Yuan's letter.
"What? He doesn't want to use my Hole Earth Gu?!" He Feng Yang was furious. But soon, he calmed himself, preparing to send a reply—keeping the deal intact was too valuable for him now.
Just as he began to write, a thunderous voice echoed outside his chamber.
"He Feng Yang, get out here!"
He Feng Yang was startled, recognizing the unmistakable authority in the voice. Puzzled, he left his chamber, only to be met by the sight of Feng Jiu Ge, the Immortal Crane Sect's most hated figure, towering above him with a gaze that radiated cold fury.
Feng Jiu Ge glared at He Feng Yang, his tone sharp as a blade. "You like protecting Fang Yuan, don't you? Then you should be happy to take a beating for him!"
Before He Feng Yang could even process what was happening, Feng Jiu Ge lunged forward. He had no time to speak, let alone defend himself, as the powerful Immortal unleashed his wrath.
...
Five days later, Fang Yuan finally received the materials he had requested from He Feng Yang, along with an unusually delayed reply. His brow furrowed in curiosity as he opened the letter.
To his amusement, the letter was filled with a tirade of insults. He Feng Yang had said every insult he can name —shameless, unscrupulous, devious, vile. The insults didn't stop there; they extended even to Fang Yuan's ancestors, damning them all with colorful curses. At the end of the letter, He Feng Yang had gone as far as to reduce the agreed-upon price, clearly venting his anger.
Fang Yuan read through it, smiling to himself, not the least bit concerned. "I got what I wanted anyway."
Unfazed by He Feng Yang's insults, Fang Yuan simply moved on to the next step of his plan.
"A.I. Chip, assist me in refining Hole Earth Gu."
[Beep. Mission established.]
...
AFTER Fang Yuan successfully refined the Hole Earth Gu and sent it back to He Feng Yang.
In the northern area of Hu Immortal Blessed Land, Fang Yuan inspected the surroundings before taking out the Hole Earth Gu. Being a special Rank 5 Gu, it required the power of a Rank 5 peak-stage Gu Master to activate it. Fang Yuan used his primeval essence, and the Gu burst forth with scarlet light, sinking into the ground.
In an instant, the earth trembled. A red beam shot into the sky, and a large crack, about 270 feet wide, appeared in the earth. The ground around the crack bulged, resembling lips with rows of stone teeth that slowly parted, revealing an eerie, yawning cave.
"Master, I'm hungry..." The giant, lip-like crack spoke, its voice shaking the ground.
Fang Yuan took out a Primeval Elder Gu. With a calm expression, he poured a massive amount of primeval stones into the opening—nearly two hundred thousand. Once satisfied, he returned the Primeval Elder Gu to his aperture.
The lip-like crack ground the stones into dust, swallowing them with a loud gulp that echoed through the mountains. After consuming the stones, it fell silent.
The Hole Earth Gu was now established, waiting for He Feng Yang's sub Gu to link the two locations.
Feeding this transportation Gu was costly. Fang Yuan would need to provide it with two hundred thousand primeval stones annually, with additional costs every time it was activated.
"Land spirit, guard this place carefully," Fang Yuan commanded Little Hu, his tone serious. "If any immortal methods are used to invade from here, cut this area off from the Blessed Land."
"Yes, master," Little Hu replied, worry creasing her face. She hated the idea of losing more of the Blessed Land.
"Now, let's proceed with our first trade."
,,,
At Fei He Mountain
Immortal Crane Sect's disciples stood beside the sub Gu of Hole Earth Gu, diligently counting the Rockmen emerging from the large lips-like crack.
"511, 512, 513...." the disciples murmured as they restrained each Rockman that come out, immobilizing them as soon as they touched the ground.
The transaction was a massive gain for Fang Yuan. In exchange for the seventy thousand Rockmen, he earned over one million primeval stones, along with a lot of Gu worms and materials.
"Now it's time to leave," Fang Yuan said, his voice calm but filled with purpose. "A.I. Chip, how is the progress of the killer move?"
[Scanning. It's 99%... 100%. The killer move is now complete.]
For months, Fang Yuan had been making meticulous preparations, his mind calculating every possibility for his venture into the Northern Plains. The A.I. Chip's simulations were a critical component of his plans, helping him creating the killer move that would be central to his success.
The core of this new killer move was none other than the Fixed Travel Immortal Gu, one of the most coveted treasures in the world of Gu Masters. With it, Fang Yuan could traverse great distances instantly—a tool that would allow him to strike, escape, and outmaneuver his enemies with ease.
it was an Immortal killer move.
Sitting in his quiet chamber, Fang Yuan's thoughts shifted to his current strength. His wealth had grown beyond what he once imagined, and now, as a Rank 5 peak Gu Master with 90% aptitude.
He had amassed a collection of Gu worms ranging from rank 1 to rank 4, each ready to be used in a variety of plans. The amount of materials he had collected was enough to sustain him through years of cultivation and experimentation.
"Northern Plains," he whispered, his voice barely audible but filled with steely determination. "I'm coming."
With the killer move complete and his plans in place, Fang Yuan's new journey was about to begin.
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