Chapter 123: THREE KINGS INHERITANCE (27)
"Fixed star Gu." Fang Yuan's thoughts churned. "It's like a rope around my neck. I have ways to remove it, but they take time. If I want it gone immediately I gotta say bye bye to my left forearm."
The urge burned in his chest.
If he discarded his forearm, the Tie clan's four old-timers would only retrieve a broken limb. But he'd lose an arm. Healing it later would cost effort. And worse—the moment he did it, his enemies would know. Tie clan and Bai Ning Bing would realize he knew about the fixed star Gu. They'd attack immediately.
That outcome would be worse than his previous life.
"I can't alert them prematurely." Fang Yuan's mind raced. "My only advantage is knowing the future. I have to go with the flow. Tie clan and Bai Ning Bing are still useful to me. If I change things too early, I lose my rebirth advantage entirely."
But if he didn't remove his arm, how could he counterattack?
His mind worked through the possibilities. Wang Xiao. Chou Jiu. Wu Shen Tong. Zhang San San. Long Qing Tian. Xiao Mang. Tie Ruo Nan. Bai Ning Bing. Mo Wu Tian. Yan Jun. Feng Tian Yu.
Slavery Gu. Jade sky Gu poison. Land spirit. Bronze hall. Immortal essence. Fixed star Gu. Second Aperture Gu. Undefeated Hundred Battles Gu.
Countless choices. Infinite possibilities. His thoughts sparked like flint in darkness.
What should he do? Protect himself. Maximize benefits.
He thought and thought. His ears buzzed. Mental energy drained.
Then—his body shook.
"Maybe... take a step back? Consider this from a wider perspective?"
An absurd thought surfaced.
"No. The risks are too great." He shook his head. Denied it.
But the thought rooted itself. Grew.
"If I do this and succeed..." His eyes shone. "The gains would be overwhelming."
He shook his head again. "If I miscalculate even a little, I'm finished. Worse than falling into Tie Ruo Nan's hands. Spring Autumn Cicada is already used. I can't rebirth again for a while."
His gaze grew solemn. Deep.
Then he laughed lightly.
"To think I, a great demonic leader, am being so careful. Afraid to execute my plans. If there's hope, I should be brave enough. Only overwhelming benefits drive me forward. Fortune and risk go together. Why take the slow road? Imma just take the shortcut. Gonna ascend to heaven in one step."
He laughed louder.
"That's it. This WILL WORK. Die without a proper burial if I fail. Soar like a dragon if I succeed. Pave the way for everything to come."
"Life is but a few hundred years. It's all a grand gamble."
Under his foot, Wang Xiao was panicking. "Little beast king, don't be rash! We can negotiate! The path to Wu mountain—we can talk about it!"
Fang Yuan had been laughing, frowning, thinking, laughing again. The display terrified the rank five lord of Wu mountain.
In Wang Xiao's eyes, Fang Yuan was a maniac. Demonic path cultivators often snapped under pressure. And this one was talking to himself, reciting poetry. Against a normal person, Wang Xiao had strategies. Against a madman? Even a Gu Immortal had no confidence.
"Oh? You'll tell me Wu mountain's entrance now?" Fang Yuan frowned, looking down at him.
"Yes! But you have to let me live!" Wang Xiao shouted.
"Hmph." Fang Yuan's gaze sharpened. He pressed down.
CRACK.
Wang Xiao's head shattered.
The lord of Wu mountain died pathetically under Fang Yuan's foot. In Fang Yuan's new plan, he was discarded. No need to waste time negotiating.
Fang Yuan looted his Gu. Used beast strength placenta Gu to devour his and Yun Luo Tian's apertures.
"Beast strength placenta Gu is at 83% aptitude. Immortal essence expenditure—slightly over two portions." He paused. "Ba Gui. You want me to stop?"
The land spirit's voice was startled. "Eh? How did you know my thoughts?"
"Of course I know." Fang Yuan let Spring Autumn Cicada's aura leak. "Ba Gui. Feel this. What is it?"
The land spirit froze.
"This... this is a rank six Immortal Gu aura! Spring Autumn Cicada... the seventh mysterious Gu! You're a mere mortal. How can you possess an Immortal Gu?"
Fang Yuan didn't waste time with persuasion games. He went straight to the point. "I'm a future Gu Immortal. I used Spring Autumn Cicada to rebirth into the past."
"What?!"
Fang Yuan's expression was arrogant. "I came back from the future. I know everything. I'm your next master. I succeeded in refining Second Aperture Gu in my previous life."
He spoke. The land spirit listened. With future knowledge and past success as proof, it was quickly convinced.
"Young man... you really succeeded in refining Second Aperture Gu?" The land spirit's voice was exhilarated. "Regardless of whether you're lying, this means the chance of success has risen by thirty percent!"
"Enough talk. I know the dangers ahead. First—I need to kill someone."
Moments later, Long Qing Tian was dead.
In the previous life, he'd found a weakened area and used jade sky Gu to poison the blessed land. Created a loophole. Caused massive damage. This time, Fang Yuan struck immediately after rebirth. Before Long Qing Tian could reach that area. Easy kill.
"Bro at least give them a lil chance" The land spirit sighed. "With Spring Autumn Cicada... you really came from the future."
Fang Yuan looted Long Qing Tian's Gu. Devoured his aperture. No jade sky poison contamination this time—he'd acted too fast for Long Qing Tian to use it.
The greatest loot: Jade Sky Gu. Dark green bamboo stem. Hollow in the middle. Smooth like jade. Rank five. Immemorial era origin. Extremely rare. Extremely deadly. Fang Yuan kept it carefully.
"Ba Gui. Transfer me here."
He appeared in front of Zhang San San. The enslavement master barely reacted before Fang Yuan ended his life. Looted. Devoured.
Zhang San San's greatest possession: Rank Five Slavery Gu.
Another flash. Fang Yuan appeared before Killer Ghost Doctor Chou Jiu.
"Little beast king?! How—"
Fang Yuan activated the Slavery Gu.
Yellow light exploded onto Chou Jiu.
"FUCK YOU! Rank five slavery Gu!" Chou Jiu's face twisted. "Kill me if you want! But you won't—"
The land spirit suppressed him. He couldn't use Gu. The slavery Gu planted easily. But controlling a rank five master required a contest of souls.
Chou Jiu resisted. Fang Yuan's soul trembled. A stalemate.
Chou Jiu sneered, sweat on his forehead. "You're naive. For enslavement path, the soul foundation matters most. You want to control someone a rank higher? Wishful thinking—"
SLAP.
Fang Yuan's palm connected with his face. The interference tilted the contest. Yellow light merged deeper.
Chou Jiu scrambled, curling into a ball, letting Fang Yuan hit him, desperately blocking the last sliver of light.
Fang Yuan laughed coldly. "Zeng Ah Niu. You don't want revenge? Imagine getting cucked lol. Chen Jiu is living well with Shang Yan Fei."
Chou Jiu's expression collapsed. "How do you know?!"
The light plunged in.
Chou Jiu knelt. "This subordinate greets master!"
Fang Yuan laughed.
Success. Rank five slavery Gu used on a rank five Gu Master. Its true value.
Mo Wu Tian and Xiao Mang hadn't arrived yet. Tie Mu Bai, Wu Gui, Ku Mo, Wu Lan Shan were already dead. The final choice was between Wang Xiao and Chou Jiu.
But Wu mountain compared to the Door of Life and Death? The forbidden land on the same level as the river of time?
Enslaving Chou Jiu meant access to the Door of Life and Death. And he was one of the Four Great Doctors of Southern Border. His influence extended even to the righteous path. Better than Mo Wu Tian in every way.
Only flaw: enslaving him burdened Fang Yuan's soul. It would make the Immortal Gu refinement harder.
"Chou Jiu. Did you use poison vow Gu with Doctor Su Shou? Swear to love each other forever?"
"Yes, master. But how do you know?"
"Hmph. Do you know how Doctor Su Shou broke free from it?"
Chou Jiu's face twisted with fury. "Chen Jiu let the poison vow kill her. Without a host, its power vanished. Then she used healing techniques to resurrect herself. Free from the vow. She risked death for that gigolo Shang Yan Fei!"
Fang Yuan's expression darkened. He kicked Chou Jiu away.
"You lying piece of shit."
In his previous life, Chou Jiu had said: "We took an oath in front of the blessed land's sea, to protect and stand by each other." Oath. Not poison vow Gu. He'd hidden the truth. Concealed himself. If Fang Yuan had known earlier that someone in Shang clan city could break free from poison vow Gu, he would have been careful of Bai Ning Bing.
Looking at Chou Jiu with contempt—a man who claimed love but used poison vow Gu to restrict his partner, then downplayed his own actions—Fang Yuan understood the type.
"Alright. Let the past be past. Chou Jiu. Go to King Xin Inheritance. Get me Undefeated Hundred Battles Gu."
"This subordinate will do all he can!"
Chou Jiu departed. Fang Yuan returned to the hall. Began refining Gu.
Compared to his previous life, he'd saved massive time. Without Spring Autumn Cicada's pressure, he could sleep six hours a day. Work steadily. Perfect sequence.
Days passed. The blessed land weakened. Immortal essence expenditure was far lower than before. Fang Yuan's experience meant fewer mistakes. The land spirit was amazed.
Che clan and Zuo clan mobilized. Xiao Mang and Mo Wu Tian appeared on San Cha mountain.
October 24th arrived again.
"Master. I've succeeded." Chou Jiu knelt, holding up a grey stone disc. Undefeated Hundred Battles Gu.
In his previous life, Feng Tian Yu had obtained King Xin Inheritance with hairy men followers. Chou Jiu, not a refinement master, had brute-forced his way through. Only the Gu. No hairy men. Fang Yuan didn't mind.
He dismissed Chou Jiu. Then went to meet Bai Ning Bing.
Behind her, a hundred thousand dog beasts rested and played.
Fang Yuan smiled. "Bai Ning Bing. Hand your Gu to the land spirit."
"What?" She was shocked. "Aren't I commanding the dogs?"
"The land spirit's control is better than yours."
The land spirit appeared, worried. "Young man, I'm refining Gu with you and controlling immortal essence. If I also control the dogs—"
Fang Yuan's expression was confident. "I have pawns among the enemies. There are enough primeval stones. Trust me."
Ba Gui hesitated. Then agreed.
"As for you, Bai Ning Bing." Fang Yuan patted her shoulder. Warm. Affectionate. "Come with me. When I refine Gu, I need someone trustworthy to guard me."
She snorted, eyes flickering secretly. "Up to you. Just don't die."
They entered the hall together.
Fang Yuan sat. Bai Ning Bing stood guard.
He closed his eyes. Did nothing.
"What are you waiting for? There's not much time." She broke the silence.
"Ning Bing." He smiled. Calm. No anxiety. "Some things can't be rushed."
She snorted. Didn't speak. Her thoughts churned: What is he planning? He took my commanding rights. Is he suspicious? No—he still trusts me. I have to endure.
She thought of Tie Ruo Nan. She's blocked by the dogs now. Without my help, she'll have to break through by force. Damn it. But we have a backup plan. Tie Bai Qi is already on San Cha mountain.
Time passed. Fang Yuan remained still. Calm. Resting.
The land spirit urged him. Fang Yuan refused. Used his rebirth identity to hold steady.
On San Cha mountain peak, the blue and red light pillars flickered. Thin. Weak. The yellow pillar was already gone.
In the previous life, only the red pillar remained—Feng Tian Yu had taken King Xin Inheritance. This time, Chou Jiu couldn't break through the final round. Two pillars remained.
"Who took King Quan Inheritance?"
"Two left. Small fry like us have no chance..."
"Strange. None of the rank five Gu Masters came out. Did something happen?"
"Right. King Quan Inheritance was claimed. But why didn't the others exit?"
"They're being detained inside the blessed land. It's nearing destruction. Soon the door will open, and we'll all be able to enter and exit at will."
A voice echoed across the peak.
"It's Lord Xiao Mang!" Someone cheered.
Xiao Mang had arrived.