---
Fang Yuan gave Fei Cai a new name. "From now on, you shall be called Fang Hong Yun."
Fang Hong Yun's face lit up with excitement. "Hong Yun, huh? That's great… Master, so your surname is Fang!"
Fang Yuan didn't respond, his mind wandering elsewhere. "I've already read through Fei Qing's memories and knew all of his future actions. That allowed me to prepare everything and show up at just the right moment."
"What I didn't expect was the presence of that lethal poison. No mortal Gu would be able to cure him." Fang Yuan's thoughts lingered on the poison that had claimed Fei Qing's life.
The only immortal, Fang Yuan, wouldn't bother curing his poison—his death was inevitable.
"It must have been luck at play. Now that Hong Yun has a stronger backer, Fei Qing's role is no longer necessary."
Fang Yuan's eyes gleamed with ambition. "Luck... a force that can either bless or curse. I will master this power, ensuring it will never harm me in the future."
As he calmed his thoughts and considered his next move, Fang Yuan sensed someone approaching from afar. His aura faded instantly as he scouted the intruder. "Huh, just a mortal."
Upon closer inspection, Fang Yuan recognized the person. A grin spread across his face. "Haha, being close to Hong Yun has truly improved my luck."
The person approaching was a woman, striking in her appearance. She wore black clothing, with a veil of dark gauze covering her face, revealing only a pair of narrow red phoenix eyes. A gloomy, solitary aura surrounded her, enhancing the demonic charm of her beauty—she was unforgettable.
From a distance, Fang Yuan identified her instantly. "Bian Si Xuan," he murmured, smiling. "I was just about to look for you... It seems luck is now on my side."
Bian Si Xuan, also known as the Shadowless Sword, was a demonic path Gu Master and a renowned assassin in Northern Plains. More importantly, she carried a Gu that Fang Yuan needed for his future plans.
Without hesitation, Fang Yuan launched an attack. His killer move was precise, and Bian Si Xuan, a mortal, didn't even have time to react before her life was taken. Her head was severed cleanly from her body, though her lower half continued moving for a brief moment before collapsing.
Fang Yuan calmly approached the corpse, retrieving the Gu worms from her aperture. "Hmm, good. I've obtained it—the Brain Explosion Gu."
After dealing with the body, Fang Yuan returned to Fang Hong Yun, who was still waiting. "Master, where did you go so suddenly?" Hong Yun asked, concern etched on his face.
Fang Yuan smiled. "Haha, Hong Yun, taking you as my son was the right decision."
Hong Yun's face beamed with joy at his words. "Father!"
Fang Yuan looked at him then said, "...No, Master is still better."
"Now, Hong Yun, close your eyes.""
Without question, Fang Hong Yun complied. Fang Yuan swiftly transported him into his immortal aperture, where a clone awaited. This clone, crafted using a simple transformation path killer move, resembled a real person. However, it had no combat power—it was merely a puppet.
The clone had the appearance of Fang Yuan's identity—Black Shadow.
Finally, Fang Yuan activated the Fixed Immortal Travel Gu and set off for his next destination.
---
In another part of the world, the landscape was teeming with green trees, vibrant plants, flowers, and various types of wood-path Gu materials. The area was filled with dense wood path dao marks. This was a blessed land, specifically a Wood path blessed land, designed for cultivating wood-path beasts, plants, and Gu worms.
"Everything is going well, but... the next calamity, sigh," an elegant woman said softly. She wore a green dress, her lively face brightened by a gentle smile. But she wasn't a human—she was the land spirit of this blessed land.
"Hm, my masters are back," the land spirit muttered, sensing their return.
A moment later, three women entered—the Hua Hai Three Immortals, followed by Fang Yuan. The Hua Hai land spirit was perplexed. It was only the second time her masters had brought someone into the blessed land, and this time it was a man. The first time had been for an urgent matter, but this was different.
"So, this is Hua Hai Blessed Land, the one that made you famous. Hmph," Fang Yuan remarked coldly, not sparing a glance at the three pale fairies. "Do as I ordered."
Fang Yuan's interest in the immortals wasn't just due to their abilities; he knew they controlled a blessed land that even Lang Ya hadn't discovered this yet. Few immortals were fortunate enough to possess such a treasure.
While these five immortals could have purchased a Rank 6 Immortal Gu for Lang Ya, he valued the prophecy more, which allowed Fang Yuan to take control over them and their blessed land.
"Hua Hai land spirit, from now on, you will obey Master Fang Yuan's orders. Whatever he commands, you will follow," the three immortals declared in unison.
Hua Hai Blessed Land was unique in that its authority was divided among the three immortals, with each holding a portion of the control. For any decision, the land spirit required approval from all three, ensuring their interests remained aligned.
"Ah... O-okay," the land spirit stammered, feeling a sense of loss but knowing she had no choice but to follow Fang Yuan's orders now.
"Land spirit, give me the details of this blessed land," Fang Yuan commanded.
The land spirit hesitated, glancing at her former masters. Seeing them reduced to mere slaves, she felt sorrow but complied. "The blessed land spans 5,600 square kilometers, with a time flow twelve times the normal rate. However, my masters invited a time-path immortal and used a time-path killer move. The current time flow is five times the normal rate."
Fang Yuan continued to ask about the Gu worms, resources, and overall state of the land.
"This is a high-grade blessed land. How did these three manage to survive calamities without an Immortal Gu?" Fang Yuan mused, turning to the immortals.
"Master," they answered, "we inherited a powerful killer move from the blessed land. It relies on numerous mortal Gu because we lack the necessary Immortal Gu. With the land spirit's help and careful preparations, we've managed to survive every calamity."
Fang Yuan was impressed by their luck, that they had managed to overcome each calamity with the same killer move. However, their luck had run out when they entered Lang Ya Blessed Land.
"Hm, when is the next calamity?" Fang Yuan asked.
This time, the land spirit responded, "The next is not just any calamity—it's a Heavenly Tribulation. It will occur in about ten years."
Fang Yuan now understood why the Hua Hai Three Immortals had risked so much to enter Lang Ya Blessed Land. They lacked confidence in surviving a Heavenly Tribulation, especially with such a high-grade blessed land.
For Rank 6 immortals and their blessed lands, Earthly Calamities occurred every ten years, while Heavenly Tribulations came every hundred years.
Fang Yuan surveyed the blessed land again. "Good. Wood path will be very useful for me in the future."
He recalled his long-term plan. "Soon, I'll take all the resources Northern Plains has to offer but now I___" Before Fang Yuan could make any further moves, something unexpected happened.
Something that would force him to alter his plans, shifting the way he intended to handle certain individuals.
Was it expected or unexpected? No body had expected it.
(Author: But I did)
It seemed Heaven's Will—or more precisely, Star Constellation's Will—had already done a move against Fang Yuan.
At this moment, A great changes began to stir in Fang Yuan's first aperture.
.
.
.