Fang Yuan observed the commotion within Yellow Treasure Heaven, feeling satisfied with the outcome for now. It would take time for matters to settle and reach a state of equilibrium. By then, he would see how his "gift" to the world had taken root.
"However… this also means I can no longer use Blood Path openly," Fang Yuan thought.
This had long been a restriction he imposed upon himself even before. He had been wary of delving too deeply into Blood Path due to its dangers and the Heavenly Court's unknown methods of dealing with powerful Blood Path cultivators. Now, after exposing a significant portion of its secrets, that restriction became absolute. If he used Blood Path methods openly, there was a high chance they would be countered - or worse, that his identity as Blood Sea Ancestor Junior would be exposed. That outcome would be disastrous.
This decision had crippled some of his methods. It was the equivalent of a starving fisherman who had only a single slice of bread who chose to throw it out into the ocean in the hope of catching a large fish using it as bait. If a fish fell into the trap, there was the prospect of big gains. On the flip side, he could just end up losing that slice of bread with the fish getting away.
Despite possessing Great Grandmaster attainment in Blood Path - something he would have slaughtered millions for in his previous life - he now could not make use of it directly. Still, it was not without value. Its foundation could support other paths. Currently, his highest attainments lay in Blood Path and Emotion Path.
Theoretically, he could attempt to replicate the Blood Chariot using Emotion Path - creating another Gu House that he could deploy openly. But in practice, the chances were slim. All paths could imitate one another to a degree, but there were limits. No matter how deeply one cultivated Blood Path, one could not replicate the effect of the Spring Autumn Cicada for example. Likewise, the ability to use mortal materials to achieve Immortal-level power was almost exclusive to Blood Path. This was one of its defining traits. There was also the White Bone Chariot, of course, but Fang Yuan had no idea how it had been designed.
Thus, an Emotion Chariot Gu House, while conceptually sound, was not something Fang Yuan could create anytime soon - if ever. He could already somewhat roughly envision a structure that relied on Emotion Path gu worms since he had the Blood Chariot as a template, but it would end up looking a lot more like the Dollhouse when done and would still lack the Blood Chariot's offensive prowess.
This left him back at square one when it came to his central problem - he still lacked a reliable offensive method. If he abandoned the Blood Path, his combat strength outside his aperture would remain lacking.
There was also the matter of the Blood Sea Ancestor's inheritances. From his previous life, Fang Yuan had never heard of the original inheritance being claimed. It was likely still hidden - but that was not certain. Someone could have obtained it in secret.
There were two locations, the first being in the Central Continent. But that was a massive distance away.
The second was far closer, in the Southern Border itself.
In his previous life, Fang Yuan would have pursued them without hesitation despite the inherent risks given the possible benefits. Now, however, the situation was different.
The risks were still considerable with more stability meaning a higher likelihood of being caught by righteous path forces; and he had other opportunities.
These inheritances felt less like opportunities - and more like distractions. Another time where the world itself seemed to be attempting to divert him from his true intended path.
Fang Yuan emerged from secluded cultivation. He and Bai Ning Bing remained within the cavern of the Thought Ruler Demon Lord's inheritance.
Bai Ning Bing sat in meditation. Behind her lay the entrance to a smaller cave.
"How is the experiment progressing?" Fang Yuan asked.
Bai Ning Bing opened her eyes. "See for yourself."
Fang Yuan waved his hand, recalling several investigative-type gu worms. After reviewing their findings, he nodded and stepped inside, Bai Ning Bing following.
The scene inside was bleak like that out of a horror movie.
Jade Eye Stone Monkeys filled the cavern.
Some wept uncontrollably in the corners, rocking back and forth like small children. Others lay motionless near the entrance to the cave, devoid of vitality. They did not so much as flinch even as Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing nearly stepped on them. A few clustered around a vat of wine, attempting to drown their sorrows in alcohol. Two of them had managed to weave some of the roots into long ropes and now hung from the ceiling, lifeless, the ropes tied around their necks. None of the other monkeys made any attempt to try and remove this macabre decorations. They simply did not have the energy to do so.
"So this is the end result," Fang Yuan said calmly, satisfied.
These Jade Eye Stone Monkeys were the same ones he had relocated into his aperture - creatures that had slaughtered the humans they were meant to nurture. He had long intended to deal with them, but any intervention risked unintended consequences within his aperture. Given they were insignificant in the grand scale of Fang Yuan Continent, barely a drop in a massive ocean, he was in no rush to get rid of them anyway. He assumed that they would either form a small monkey colony of their own and be limited to a tiny area or would eventually get pushed out by some other rising human force.
However, after studying the Thought Ruler Demon Lord's inheritance - and noting the phenomenon that was the Dog Suicide Bridge, he realized that there was a flaw with his Emotion Path methods that he had researched until now. He had experimented extensively on humans. But animals also possessed emotions. The Thought Ruler Demon Lord had performed several experiments on both human and non-human subjects when he had been alive. Fang Yuan realized that if he wanted to improve that he too, needed to follow in these footsteps.
His killer move Feeling Homesick had worked on the Steam Spouting Yak - but that was a relatively simple-minded creature.
Would his methods work on stronger, more complex non-human beings? This was far more than a theoretical exercise, some of his upcoming calamities and tribulations could involve powerful beasts like dragons which might not be as easy to deal with as the Steam Spouting Yak. Thus, he conducted this experiment.
"What exactly did you do to them?" Bai Ning Bing asked, her tone tinged with morbid curiosity.
"Oh," Fang Yuan replied casually, "I used Emotion Path methods to give all of them crippling depression. It appears quite effective at reducing their battle strength." Fang Yuan was someone who learned from his past mistakes. He knew better than to try this sort of experiment within his aperture in case things went south again, and so had taken a small fraction of the monkeys outside for testing.
Bai Ning Bing frowned.
"You really enjoy tormenting monkeys. First monkey brains, now this?"
"What are you talking about?" Fang Yuan said lightly. "I love animals. This is merely the first step toward curing depression on a wider basis. Not to mention the monkeys were becoming overpopulated, by taking a small number away I've made it so that they can now once again grow at a more sustainable rate. As for these though... yes, I've already exhausted my uses for them." Before she could respond, Fang Yuan waved his hand. The monkeys died instantly.
"If you want their jade eyes, take them," Fang Yuan added as if he were doing Bai Ning Bing a huge favor.
Bai Ning Bing snorted. "What do you take me for? Simple Rank 1 refinement materials?"
"Well if you don't want them, I'll take them instead," Fang Yuan said. Meanwhile he was analyzing the results.
The monkeys reacted somewhat similarly to humans - embracing despair, lethargy, escapism, and even suicide. However, the intensity varied. The effect was weaker than on humans. Adjustments would be needed to his killer moves if he wanted to use similar attacks on animals as he did on people.