— — — — — — —
Main Hall
Fang Yuan pulled out the Bright Pearl Gu, a storage-type Gu primarily used to seal other Gu worms. It forced them into a deep slumber, making storage way easier. Over the past few days, he'd refined this Gu alongside others designed for storing and sealing what he needed.
"The Second Aperture Immortal Gu? Ha! Only an idiot would refine it now," Fang Yuan scoffed inwardly. "Might as well not waste the remaining Gu materials. Besides, there's a ton of purple crystal relic Gu here... and even more yellow-gold relic Gu. I want all of it."
He turned to Ba Gui, the land spirit. "Ba Gui, take these Gu worms and store all the materials, including the remaining relic Gu," he ordered coolly.
Ba Gui's expression soured. "...No! These materials are for refining Gu, not hoarding!"
"This is necessary, Ba Gui," Fang Yuan replied, his tone steady but firm. "If you don't do it now, the Second Aperture Immortal Gu refinement will definitelyfail."
"I already have a plan, alright? Just follow my instructions and don't be the reason this whole thing falls apart."
Ba Gui hesitated, his face torn. "You're saying... it's my choice?"
"Exactly. If you don't trust me, fine. But don't regret it later when this backfires."
After a tense pause, Ba Gui finally sighed. His voice was laced with resignation. "Alright... I'll do it."
Fang Yuan's lips curled into a faint smile. "Good. Don't worry—this will work. The Immortal Gu refinement willsucceed."
He added, almost teasingly, "By the end of today, you'll see a new Immortal Gu with your own eyes, Ba Gui."
Ba Gui's expression softened slightly. "I... I trust you," he muttered before leaving to complete his task.
As Ba Gui walked away, Fang Yuan watched him with a sly grin. "Perfect. Everything's going just as planned."
He turned back to his work. "Now, time for the next step."
From his storage, Fang Yuan retrieved a wine jar. His eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"In the Legends of Ren Zu, Divine Travel Gu says: 'Drink four of the world's top-tier wines, and I will be born in your heart. I'll teleport you anywhere you desire.'"
One of the main reasons Fang Yuan had chosen Chou Jiu to begin with was because the man possessed three of the four wines needed for this Gu.
The final one? He'd snagged it from an unlucky Gu Master who had crossed his path.
He tilted his head back, taking one deliberate sip after another. "Slurp."
Gu worms buzzed around him, keeping him sober as he drank the powerful wines in succession.
"Everything is falling into place," he thought, setting the empty jar aside. "Now, all that's left is waiting for the right moment to refine the Fixed Immortal Travel Gu."
— — —
After a Few Hours
Outside the Hall
A black hole appeared suddenly, spinning rapidly as an army of white apes leapt out. The apes charged forward in formation, surging toward the main hall with overwhelming momentum.
"Young master, go ahead. I'll hold them off here," Tie Bai Qi's voice was firm and commanding.
"We're counting on you. The Immortal Gu recipe and its materials are the top priority. For the clan, Fang Yuan must be taken alive!" Tie Ruo Nan gritted her teeth, determination flashing in her eyes. She led the four Tie clan elders as they advanced, their movements shielded by the relentless white ape army.
With the apes covering them, Tie Ruo Nan successfully broke into the main hall.
— — —
Inside the Hall
Fang Yuan appeared busy refining a Gu, but in truth, he'd already stashed nearly all the valuable materials into his storage Gu worms.
Ba Gui, the land spirit, prepared to attack the intruders, but Fang Yuan stopped him sharply. "Ba Gui, don't overextend yourself! Focus on controlling the dog groups and manipulating the immortal essence. You can't handle anything more right now!"
Turning his attention elsewhere, Fang Yuan called out, "Bai Ning Bing, it's your turn. Go block her!"
"I trust you."
Bai Ning Bing snorted coldly before charging to confront Tie Ruo Nan.
The clash was fierce, with the Tie clan's four elders quickly joining in and piling immense pressure onto Bai Ning Bing.
"I can't hold them off much longer, Fang Yuan!" Bai Ning Bing shouted, struggling against the onslaught. But deep inside, he thought darkly, 'Your death is coming, Fang Yuan.'
"Hang in there! I need more time!" Fang Yuan's voice was tense, though his hands worked deftly as he continued pretending to refine. Quietly, he slipped the last of the main refinement materials into his storage.
A smirk crept across his face. "Heh, another five-hundred-year lifespan Gu. Even just this alone is a fortune most Rank 6 Gu Immortals could only dream of."
He paused briefly, amused. "Bai Ning Bing really knows how to sell it. If he were from Earth, he'd be raking in awards as the highest-paid actor—or maybe actress, given that figure," Fang Yuan mused with a sly grin.
Just as expected, Bai Ning Bing let out a loud gasp, feigning exhaustion. "I can't go on! Fang Yuan, I'm going to self-destruct!"
Crack… crack…
Frost began spreading rapidly, filling the hall with a bone-chilling cold. The temperature plummeted as Bai Ning Bing's body transformed into solid ice. It was the unmistakable sign of an extreme physique about to explode.
"Bai Ning Bing? Bai Ning Bing!" Fang Yuan called out, though he already knew it was all an act.
A flicker of amusement crossed his face. "Guess it's time to step in."
"Bai Ning Bing's performance is truly impressive. Honestly, I'm amazed," Fang Yuan thought to himself. "I'll have to reward him for this one."
He stood up, sending the Yang Gu toward Bai Ning Bing. But just before it reached him, the Gu abruptly veered in a sharp U-turn, returning to Fang Yuan's right hand.
At the same moment, a puff of smoke materialized into another Gu worm in his left hand. It was the fake Second Aperture Immortal Gu.
"In the original timeline, this Gu could last forty years. But with just a small fraction of the lifespan Gu, it'll barely survive for ten," Fang Yuan noted internally.
Raising his head, he activated a defensive Gu to block the frost effortlessly. Then, with a knowing smile, he turned to Bai Ning Bing and asked, "So, Bai Ning Bing, how much longer do you plan to keep up this act?"
"You're really amazing and all," Fang Yuan continued with mock praise, "but time's tight. I can't keep watching this performance."
The frost stopped abruptly. Bai Ning Bing's icy form shattered, revealing his true self. He stared at Fang Yuan in shock and disbelief. "How… how did you know!?"
Fang Yuan chuckled. "In Shang Clan City, you had Su Shou remove your poison vow and secretly contacted Tie Ruo Nan. Did you really think I wouldn't notice?" He examined the Gu worms in his hands as he spoke, his tone casual.
Bai Ning Bing collapsed to the ground, his expression dazed. "How did he figure it out? I was so careful… He's been watching me all along, letting me act like a fool this whole time!"
"I was nothing but a clown in his eyes," he thought bitterly.
"Wait," Bai Ning Bing's thoughts raced. "At least I succeeded in planting the Fixed Star Gu…"
But Fang Yuan's chuckle cut through his hope. Raising his left arm, he asked mockingly, "Fixed Star Gu?"
The Tie clan elders' expressions darkened. They realized Fang Yuan could easily sever his arm and escape unscathed. For someone as ruthless as him, losing a limb was no big deal.
"You all think I Fang Yuan will escape?"
Fang Yuan's lips curled into a cold, menacing smile. "Now, I can kill you all!"
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