— — — — — — —
Tian Ti Mountain
A brilliant white-gold light flashed, and from within the radiance, a massive red door—30 meters tall—materialized.
A rainbow-colored plaque adorned it, and pink clouds gathered overhead as rainbow light bathed Fang Zheng's body. In an instant, he vanished from his spot.
Sending the Blue Charm Lightning Shadow out of the blessed land was hard on Little Hu. But to transfer one Fang Zheng? That was child's play.
"He's in!" He Feng Yang finally relaxed, his tense shoulders loosening.
Just then, a bolt of lightning descended from the sky, aiming to enter the blessed land, but the red door shifted away just in time. The Blue Charm Lightning Shadow clearly intended to follow Fang Zheng.
Fang Yuan exactly told Little Hu to be extra careful for situations like that.
— — —
Hu Immortal Blessed Land
Fang Zheng's surroundings blurred, and when his vision cleared, everything had changed.
He stood on a vast grassland surrounded by endless greenery. Thick, dark clouds churned ominously in the sky above, and nearby, several lakes shimmered, their surfaces rippling gently.
"I've arrived... Hu Immortal Blessed Land," he murmured, quickly realizing his Gu worms were sealed—just like during the competition.
Before him, smoky shadows swirled, condensing into a mirror-sized shape.
Within the reflection, Fang Yuan's figure appeared, casually lounging in his chair.
His right leg was crossed over his left, one hand rested on his knee, and the other supported his chin.
His black hair hung loosely, partly covering his cold, calculating eyes. He looked relaxed, but an unmistakable aura of danger surrounded him.
Still, his aura resembled that of a Rank 4 Gu Master—not his true aura at Rank 5 Peak.
"My dear little brother, what a surprise to see you here in Central Continent."
"But it was expected." Fang Yuan spoke in a calm, almost lazy tone.
The voice was familiar, but a chill ran down Fang Zheng's spine.
Overcome with fury, Fang Zheng's body trembled. "Fang Yuan, you're nothing but a monstrous demon! You murdered our entire clan! I'll kill you with my own hands!" He charged at the image, blind with rage.
But before he could take a single step, he was bound in place, frozen.
"Coward!" Fang Zheng spat, his eyes burning with hatred. "You don't even have the guts to face me properly? Hiding behind your tricks like the lowly creature you are! You slaughtered our entire clan just to save yourself! Are you even human anymore?!"
Fang Yuan chuckled, leaning back even further. "Oh, but in a twisted way, I saved your life. You owe me thanks."
"Sigh... Fang Zheng!""Are you even human? Trying to kill your own blood brother—the one who saved you?"
"Let me tell you, my first thought back then was how to save us. I wasn't selfish like you, who only thought of yourself. Really, looking back, I think I was too naive—maybe I didn't need to put you on such a high pedestal."
Fang Zheng's chest heaved as he struggled to control his breathing, his eyes fixed on Fang Yuan. "You're just spouting nonsense. You clearly tried to kill me."
"Did I?" Fang Yuan replied, his expression filled with genuine sadness.
"I really don't understand why you always see me in such a negative light. Don't you even remember who protected you from the beginning, who ensured you received humane treatment in our clan? Wasn't that me?"
"Yet you're so heartless—you don't even treat me the way I've treated you."
"Can you even imagine how I feel after you betrayed me? Fang Zheng, I could expect betrayal from anyone, but not from you." Fang Yuan's eyes glistened as he fought back tears.
Fang Zheng began to doubt himself.
Fang Yuan sighed deeply. "Well, it's not you I'm interested in talking to anymore. Everything between us is over." He turned slightly and ordered, "Little Hu, unseal the Spirit Incubating Flea Gu."
The Spirit Incubating Flea was a soul path Gu, used as a life extension method. It allowed a Gu Master to store their soul within the Gu after death.
In Fang Zheng, this Gu housed the spirit of Lord Sky Crane, his master who had supported him all these years.
As the Gu unsealed, Lord Sky Crane materialized, looking stunned. "How… how did you know?"
Fang Yuan's smile was cold. "Does it really matter now?"
Sky Crane composed himself, quickly trying to regain control of the situation. "You could become an elder in the sect—"
"Stop." Fang Yuan's voice was sharp. "I've already seen the letter from Immortal Crane Sect. Don't bother with empty promises about making me an elder. But I am willing to negotiate some deals with you."
Sky Crane hesitated but nodded. "We can negotiate. We want—"
"But there's a problem," Fang Yuan cut him off again. "I don't trust your sect's sincerity. Sending Fang Zheng, knowing the hatred he harbors for me... what are your true intentions?"
Sky Crane was momentarily speechless, caught off guard. But he quickly replied, "Then what is it that you want?"
"I want some Rank 4 Gu worms that I need," Fang Yuan's voice was calm.
"Also how about expelling Fang Zheng? Get rid of him so he doesn't cause any further issues."
Sky Crane's face twisted in anger. "That's impossible! Fang Zheng is a disciple of Immortal Crane Sect. We don't abandon our own!"
Fang Yuan's smile was sinister. "No need for righteous words. Weren't you planning to take over Fang Zheng's body after swallowing his soul?"
Sky Crane's composure shattered, his face paling. "How… how could you know this?!"
Fang Yuan's gaze grew colder. "I know more than you can imagine."
Sky Crane's spirit flickered, fear evident in his eyes. It felt like he was merely a puppet dancing to Fang Yuan's tune.
Fang Zheng, equally shocked, turned to his master, his eyes pleading for an explanation. "M-Master, that must be a lie, right?"
He wanted to believe that Fang Yuan was lying.
"…Discipline, I'm sorry. I had this idea, but that was in the past. Now I truly just want to cultivate you," Sky Crane explained.
"So it's true..." Fang Zheng murmured, unable to believe it.
Fang Yuan smiled again. "Hmph, why? You're a betrayer who harmed your brother—the one who truly loved you. You think you deserve a loving master?"
"..."
Fang Zheng stayed silent, his mind in chaos as he struggled to discern the truth behind the lie.
"So, Sky Crane, what will you do? Is Fang Zheng so important that you can't expel him?"
Sky Crane felt cornered, as Fang Yuan's words tightened around him like a noose. He recalled He Feng Yang's cold instructions: 'If necessary, we can sacrifice Fang Zheng.'
Guilt weighed heavily on Sky Crane. He truly cared for this disciple, and the thought of taking over his body had long since faded. Yet now, bound by He Feng Yang's orders, he was trapped.
Avoiding his disciple's gaze, Sky Crane spoke softly, making one last plea. "Isn't there another way? You could even request additional resources."
Fang Yuan's lips curled into a smile. "Sure, why not?"
"Ha?" Sky Crane looked at Fang Yuan in surprise—he was ready to expel Fang Zheng, and he believed that Fang Yuan wanted to kill his brother so that he could boost his talent.
Fang Yuan had a mocking tone. "The details are in the letter. Return, and let He Feng Yang see for himself."
Turning his gaze slightly, he ordered, "Little Hu, expel them to the Rank 6 immortal waiting outside."
Little Hu moved swiftly, her small, fox-like body glowing faintly. In moments, they vanished beyond the blessed land's boundary.
Fang Yuan leaned back in his chair, his expression calm and calculating. "It's done."
"Like hell I'll kill Fang Zheng. I'm not an idiot!"
"Who would be stupid enough to even think of that?"
.
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