Two full days had already passed since Fang Tian was imprisoned inside the cell. He had tried to investigate the surroundings, but he found nothing at all. Aside from the stone cell and the earthen floor, Fang Tian could obtain no other information. From time to time, the supervising Gu Master would bring him food so that he would not starve, yet he was unable to glean anything from this either.
Fang Tian was anxious, and a conflict arose within him as to whether he should tear apart the seal on his aperture and attempt to escape. One part of his mind urged him to try, while another told him not to. Even if he tore the seal apart and destroyed the prison, it would attract the attention of countless Rank Three Gu Masters, and even Rank Four elders would not go easy on him.
Yet fear always overcame reason. At first, Fang Tian cultivated quietly, nourishing the walls of his aperture in preparation for breaking through to Rank Three. The cultivation obstacles that ordinary Gu Masters faced did not exist for the Ten Extreme Physiques. Gu Masters measured their ability to break through to the next rank by their aptitude and the capacity of their primeval essence, but for the Ten Extreme Physiques, breaking through to the next rank was extremely simple.
The walls of their apertures were fragile and weak against the surging waves of primeval essence. If Fang Tian wished, he could break through to Rank Three immediately, but he would not do so while imprisoned. He did not know what Gu formations had been set up here, and if he exposed any abnormality, he feared he would fall into even greater trouble.
The third day passed uneventfully, but the tension in his heart gnawed at him. When the guarding Gu Master came to deliver food, Fang Tian tried to question him, but all he received was silence. By the fourth day, Fang Tian had already made up his mind.
"I'm leaving this place. I can't trust the Wu Clan!"
Having resolved himself, Fang Tian madly poured his primeval essence into Vine Garden Gu and Jumping Grass Gu. The viscous shroud covering his aperture began to dissolve under the effects of his Gu usage, filling Fang Tian with joy. He continued to pour primeval essence into his Gu worms until the sticky shroud covering his aperture had shrunk to a negligible size.
Outside, loud commotion was approaching, indicating that the Gu Masters guarding the place had been alerted. However, Fang Tian had already removed the shroud that sealed his aperture.
"Ah! What?! Damn them, they were lying! These hypocrites!"
The moment the sticky shroud covering his aperture vanished, an invisible force surged forth and enveloped his aperture completely, sealing it again and suppressing his Gu worms. Fang Tian did not give up. He gritted his teeth and thought of the positive side.
"I still have my strength path foundation. With my physical body alone, maybe I can defeat the guards outside."
Fang Tian kicked the iron door, sending it flying backward. Behind the shattered door, several Rank Two Gu Masters activated their Gu worms to attack and suppress Fang Tian. One of them released a gigantic wind blade, which split into six parts that rushed along different paths, sealing off all escape routes.
Fang Tian charged straight through one of the paths. A wind blade struck his back, leaving a deep gash. Even without Gu worms, Fang Tian was extremely fast due to Horse Strength Gu. He dashed through the gap the guards created, but to his misfortune, a young female Gu Master with long, black nails appeared and slashed toward his neck.
Fang Tian did not hesitate. He twisted his body forcefully, wrenching his muscles in pain, causing the nails to scrape across his right cheek and leave deep marks. He countered with a kick to the female Gu Master's abdomen, sending her flying as blood sprayed from her mouth.
It was a grievous injury.
Icy spears shot out and struck everywhere around him; one even tore off a piece of flesh from his thigh, leaving the wound covered in ice and congealed blood. He was surrounded once again by five Rank Three Gu Masters, hardening his resolve to fight even more fiercely.
Two strength path Gu Masters rushed forward and engaged Fang Tian in close combat. These Gu Masters were trained in martial techniques, but Fang Tian had endured the deadly wilderness and thus stood toe-to-toe with them.
The sounds of clashing fists rang out in loud cracks. Fang Tian's elbow smashed into one Gu Master's back, and he felt the bone beneath shatter. In return, one Gu Master's leg struck his knee, twisting it painfully. Fang Tian retaliated by grappling the Gu Master's arm and wrenching it until it snapped.
The other Gu Master hurried to aid his companion, but Fang Tian's physical strength was already superior to both of them. Fang Tian's palm struck the Gu Master's face, and he felt the man's jawbones shatter. This, however, gave the other Gu Masters an opening to unleash their attacks.
Fang Tian's clothes were set ablaze by fireballs, while his skin and flesh beneath melted from a strange poison path Gu. At the same time, one of the Gu Masters released a massive snake-shaped Gu toward Fang Tian.
Fang Tian seized the snake's head with one hand and clamped its tail with the other. A pained hiss rang out as the snake's body was torn in half. The Rank Two Gu Masters trembled in fear as they looked at Fang Tian as if he were a devil crawling out of hell. After all, dozens of wounds and burns of every kind covered his body; his tattered clothes were ripped and burned, their green color dyed by blood flowing like a river.
"Was Elder Sister Wu Ji wrong?! She said he cultivates wood path, but his strength path foundation surpasses Brother Hao and Brother Wei!"
Fang Tian struggled to draw breath as his vision gradually blurred. Yet his eyes still carried a glint of ferocity and an unyielding will to escape. He was like a wounded tiger that no longer cared about death.
From afar, Wu Ji, whose complexion was still pale from the battle, merely watched and shouted to the Gu Masters:
"Alright, that's enough! Fall back, you juniors, and carry your companions away. The wounded will be treated, and rewards will be distributed to all of you!"
The Rank Three Gu Masters quickly retreated upon Wu Ji's command, carrying their injured comrades toward the healing halls. Wu Ji remained on a distant balcony, using a reconnaissance Gu, making Fang Tian appear as though he were right before her.
Her expression was cold, yet her eyes were filled with admiration. Perhaps if she were in his place, she would not have performed any better. Although she had been defeated by Fang Tian, who was of a lower rank, Wu Ji had only felt anger at first. When Elder Chen Yue explained the matter to her, she understood that Fang Tian had won the battle solely through his strength and will.
"I never thought that in my life, I, Wu Ji, would admire the power of someone who does not walk the strength path… Perhaps if not for my mother's advice, I would have challenged him again, suffered an even worse defeat, and lost face before the clansmen, making it impossible for me to compete for the position of Young Clan Leader."
Wu Ji leapt down from the balcony and appeared before Fang Tian in an instant by using a space path Gu worm. Fang Tian's expression twisted into fury when he saw Wu Ji. He spat out his words with difficulty, blood flowing from his mouth.
"You! You shameless bitch! Have you come to get beaten like a dog again?!"
Wu Ji's expression stiffened slightly. With a kick, she sent Fang Tian flying, her voice tinged with cold displeasure.
"Watch your words in front of me. You are still in the Wu Clan, and you must respect its members!"
"The Wu Clan, you say?… The very clan that ignored the rules of the duel and imprisoned me just because I won, reducing me to this miserable state?… Oh, how pitiful I am. If the Gu Master world were to see my condition, I would become a warning to all not to provoke your clan!"
Wu Ji sent another kick toward Fang Tian, sending him crashing to the ground several meters away.
"That's better, isn't it? Now let's speak like adults, directly, instead of using roundabout threats."
Fang Tian nodded and closed his mouth this time. He had had enough of being kicked. Seeing Fang Tian's compliance, Wu Ji revealed her true purpose.
"Alright, you can leave this place if you wish, but you must listen to my offer first… My mother, Elder Chen Yue, invites you to join the Wu Clan under her leadership and become part of her faction. In return, you will receive an enormous amount of resources and primeval stones to use, as well as a small number of inheritance references to study."
Fang Tian was utterly stunned; to say he was shocked would not be an exaggeration. He had expected to be blackmailed by Wu Ji and forced to hand over most, if not all, of his secrets, yet the terms she offered were extraordinarily generous.
"And what happens if I refuse?"
At this, Wu Ji broke into a wide smile, clearly enjoying this. The words she spoke were like daggers plunging deep into his heart.
"Then let's see… I suppose you'll explode and die?… Ah, right, my mother told me you are most likely one of the Ten Extreme Physiques. Which one was it?.. Boundless Forest Samsara?"
Fang Tian was terrified. An immense killing intent erupted toward Wu Ji.