Fated Meeting?

---

Fang Hong Yun wandered through the bustling camp, his eyes wide with curiosity as he observed everything around him. Every servant or tribe member he passed greeted him with respect, knowing who he was and the powerful figures connected to him.

News had spread quickly about Tai Bai's senior brother—a Rank 5 peak Gu Master—and, naturally, his disciple, Fang Hong Yun. People in the alliance paid special attention to the young disciple, recognizing him as a young and easy-to-influence figure. To those with ambitions or hidden agendas, Hong Yun represented a golden opportunity—a bridge to influential Gu Masters. For them, gaining his trust could mean valuable insights into the workings of two strong Rank 5 masters or even alliances with a formidable faction within the alliance.

As Hong Yun strolled through the alliance grounds, immersed in his exploration, a sudden impact broke his focus.

"Ouch! Big brother, I'm sorry! I didn't see you!" A small voice cried as a young girl tumbled to the ground, looking up at him with wide eyes.

Startled, Hong Yun quickly helped her up. "Ah, it's okay," he said kindly, offering her a hand with a warm smile.

"Thank you, big brother! My name is Zhao Lian Yun. What's yours?" she replied, dusting herself off. Zhao Lian Yun looked as though she had been carved from jade, her clear pinkish skin glowing, her embroidered clothing adding to her charm. Her hair was soft and dark, framing her face, and her crystal-clear eyes shone with a lively sparkle.

Naturally, Zhao Lian Yun hadn't bumped into him by accident. This wasn't some meeting of fate; she had already heard about Hong Yun and recognized it as a valuable opportunity.

Unbeknownst to Hong Yun, Zhao Lian Yun was an otherworldly demon, a person with grand ambitions and the keen sense to seize opportunities. In her mind, this was the perfect chance to gain the support she needed. Hong Yun was valuable—being the only disciple of a Rank 5 peak Gu Master and having Tai Bai as his uncle gave him considerable importance. Without a tribe, these masters were free agents, and befriending their disciple held immense appeal.

"My name is Fang Hong Yun, the disciple of my master," he introduced himself with an innocent, unguarded smile.

Zhao Lian Yun was briefly taken aback. "Is he testing me with such a vague statement?" she wondered but quickly dismissed the thought.

Seeing that Hong Yun seemed genuinely naïve, maybe even a little simple, only fueled her sense of opportunity. His innocence could be her key to moving closer to these powerful figures, and she even considered the idea of becoming their disciple—or perhaps marriage. At eleven, Zhao Lian Yun was aware that, in the Northern Plains, powerful alliances were often forged early, sometimes through strategic marriages.

They talked for a while, and despite the differences between a Gu Master and a mortal, their conversation flowed surprisingly well.

As they continued to talk, Zhao Lian Yun put her plan into motion. She could sense that Hong Yun was inexperienced and easy to influence, a characteristic that could lead to a beneficial connection, She even thought, "It would be better to become engaged to him than to let my tribe decide".

In the Northern Plains, alliances were frequently formed through marriages between children as young as twelve or thirteen.

(Note: Historically, it was common for girls aged 12 to 14 to marry and even have children, a practice that persisted in many societies until the mid-20th century. This would likely hold true in Northern Plains traditions as well.)

Eventually, Zhao Lian Yun glanced at the horizon. "I have to go now. My father will worry if I'm gone too long," she said, preparing to leave.

Hong Yun nodded, waving. "Ah, okay... bye, Little Yunyun," he called cheerfully.

As Zhao Lian Yun walked away, she reflected on her interaction. "So, he wasn't testing me. He truly is as innocent as he seems—practically naive." She grinned, realizing that his innocence could work entirely in her favor. "A few more encounters, and I'll be even closer to him. This might be easier than I thought.""

"The more he's like this, the better for me." She smirked slightly, her eyes glinting with ambition. 

But for now, she had to return to the Zhao tribe and ensure her absence didn't raise suspicion. The groundwork was laid, and she would wait patiently for the next chance to progress her plans.

---

After a week had passed, Fang Yuan was refining Gu for himself and the Alliance this time.

As a Rank 5 peak refinement Gu master, Fang Yuan had access to ample resources, and his main role within the alliance had shifted to focusing on refinement of high Rank Gu, gaining substantial benefits.

Nearly every refinement attempt succeeded, leaving him with extra mortal materials and extra refined Gu worms for personal use. While these rewards were insignificant to him as an immortal, the key benefit was avoiding battles, allowing him to stay hidden for the time being.

Even though Fang Yuan had already refined enough Gu for himself within the blessed land, he continued producing more. It cost him little time, and maintaining a steady output allowed him to subtly strengthen his influence within the Alliance.

But despite months of refining, his refinement attainment remained stuck at Quasi-Grandmaster. Fang Yuan finally knew how difficult it was to push attainment beyond Grandmaster level. "If only I had Dream Realms to explore, my attainments would soar. But for now, this is sufficient," he pondered.

As for his main path, Fang Yuan had already made his choice: ever since he left his blessed land, he committed to mastering the Formation Path. This path would be essential to his plans, providing the backbone for his cultivation strategy in the near future.

Fang Yuan then checked on the progress of the missions he had assigned to the AI Chip.

"The AI Chip has made significant strides in completing the unfinished immortal recipe, it seems that the immortal recipe of shapeshifting Gu helped a lot. Perhaps it will be ready in just a few days," he considered. But he reminded himself, "Even if it's ready, I'll wait for Lang Ya's invitation before taking any action."

"At that time, securing an immortal inheritance in Wisdom Path will also be within reach," he mused to himself, before his thoughts were interrupted by a sudden voice nearby.

"Lord Black Shadow, the leader has invited you to a meeting," a respectful voice called from outside.

"Understood," Fang Yuan responded.

Some time later, Fang Yuan and Tai Bai entered the meeting hall, where a crowd had already gathered. Hei Lou Lan sat in the leader's seat, radiating confidence.

"Hahaha, two esteemed sirs, please, take a seat!" Hei Lou Lan welcomed them with a hearty laugh. Then, her expression turned sinister. "Dong Fang Yu Liang has sent a letter, asking for a direct confrontation. Each side will send a team for a decisive battle. He's offered that if we win, the Dong Fang tribe will withdraw from the imperial court."

"Right in line with my expectations," Fang Yuan thought as he listened.

"Haha, he must know he can't win against me, not with the Hei Alliance so powerful," Hei Lou Lan laughed with a bloodthirsty glint in her eyes. "If we win, the imperial court is as good as ours. And even if we lose, we won't retreat. We'll attack, crushing their forces in one swift move." Her laugh rang out, echoing with confidence and menace.

Fang Yuan observed her, his expression calm, though inwardly he was amused. "She really does play the maniacal act well—or perhaps her mind truly is steeped in insanity."

Yet his thoughts returned to Dong Fang Yu Liang. "I expected him to concede defeat, but he seems determined, perhaps driven by a stronger purpose... or fear."

Dong Fang Yu Liang's primary goal in this imperial court was to save his sister, Dong Fang Qing Yu. She was born talentless and sickly, with no aptitude for cultivation, deemed worthless by all but her brother. He was willing to go to any lengths for her, motivated by a promise from an immortal in his family to heal her if he succeeded.

"Poor Dong Fang Yu Liang," Fang Yuan reflected. "In my previous life, he captured Ma Hong Yun using Three Hearts Combination Soul. Yet, his beloved sister betrayed him, freeing his enemy and even giving away the secret of Three Hearts Combination Soul." Fang Yuan felt a pang of pity; even the immortal assisting him planned to use and ultimately kill him, a fate Fang Yuan could understand all too well.

"I left him a Gu that can heal his sister that he should have got it," he thought, "It must be why he's changed course."

"I need to enter the Imperial Court without wasting time on meaningless battles. With this strategy, the Hei Alliance can exert its full strength to dominate quickly. I'll only make small, subtle moves; no need to draw attention to myself," Fang Yuan thought, carefully organizing his plans.

Although he had modified his approach, his plans had, in fact, become simpler. Originally, his goal was to seize the Imperial Court blessed land. Now, his method was more direct.

"I'll just extract all the benefits the blessed land has to offer—and then destroy it once I'm done."

...