The next day, Wei Yang came early.
He did not speak of Shang Yan Fei's private judgment. He only smiled and cupped his fists towards the three of them.
"Three esteemed guests have just arrived at Shang clan city. Lord clan leader instructed me to show you around."
Fang Yuan smiled. "Then we will trouble Brother Wei."
Bai Ning Bing said nothing.
Fang Ming nodded. "Good. I also wanted to understand this city better."
Wei Yang led them through the streets. Shang clan city was too large. One day was not enough to see even a small part of it. Streets curved around the mountain, stone pillars connected different levels, and shops, halls, gardens, restaurants, and residences were arranged like layers inside a giant beast. The city itself seemed alive, swallowing people from all directions and sending them to different places according to their strength, wealth, and purpose.
"This is the culinary zone." Wei Yang said. "Many restaurants here are run by Gu Master chefs. Some dishes are cooked using Gu, and some ingredients are not found outside Shang clan city."
The smell of food filled the air. Fang Ming only glanced over it. Food was useful, but it was not important now.
They continued forward.
"This is the caretaking zone. Gu Masters with too many Gu can leave some here to be fed and maintained. The price depends on the Gu's rank, food, and temperament."
Fang Ming's eyes moved slightly. This place was useful. The more Gu he had, the heavier the feeding burden became. Selling redundant Gu was correct, but not every Gu should be sold. Some rare Gu were worth keeping even if they were not used often. A proper city solved problems that lone Gu Masters had to endure by themselves. This was also one of the differences between a lone cultivator and a force.
Wei Yang brought them further.
"This is the substitute refinement zone. If a Gu Master lacks confidence refining a Gu personally, he can pay a refinement master to help. Of course, failure is still possible. The higher the rank, the higher the cost."
Fang Ming looked longer this time. Refinement halls stood on both sides. Some had smoke rising from chimneys. Some had attendants carrying trays of materials. Gu Masters walked in with hope and walked out with either joy or dead expressions. Refinement was never simple. Fang Ming had only just started learning, and seeing an entire zone built around refinement made him want to check if there was someone with refinement talent to copy.
Then came the auction zone.
"Small auctions happen every day." Wei Yang said. "Middle auctions happen every two weeks. At the end of every month, there is a large auction. Rare Gu, inheritance clues, materials, beast parts, and even Rank five Gu may appear if one is lucky."
Finally, Wei Yang brought them to the most crowded place.
The battle zone.
Even before entering, Fang Ming could hear the noise. Cheers, curses, shouts, and the sound of Gu attacks striking stone mixed together. The battle zone was full of Gu Masters. Some came to fight, some came to watch, some came to gamble, and some came to be noticed.
Wei Yang smiled. "This place is one of Shang clan's most popular zones. It is also one of the ways Shang clan recruits outside talent."
He pointed towards the battle stages. "If a demonic Gu Master wants a stable future, this is one path. Fight, win, gain reputation, and if a young master or clan elder values you, you may be recruited."
A lone Gu Master could rise here, but once he accepted too much, he would slowly become tied to Shang clan. Wei Yang seemed to hint at somthing.
"I once fought here too. From the fifth inner city battle stages, I fought my way upward. Later, Lord clan leader noticed me."
Fang Yuan looked interested. "Brother Wei's strength must be excellent."
"It is only experience." Wei Yang replied.
Then he looked at Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing.
"Since we are here, how about a spar?"
Bai Ning Bing's eyes sharpened.
Fang Yuan smiled. "Brother Wei wants to test us?"
Wei Yang did not deny it. "A friendly exchange."
His gaze moved to Fang Ming. "Young Master Fang Ming, will you join?"
Fang Ming shook his head. "I am Rank four. If I join, the spar loses meaning."
Wei Yang smiled. "You can restrict yourself."
"I could." Fang Ming said. "But I would rather watch."
Wei Yang looked at him for a moment, then nodded. "That is also fine."
Soon, they entered a flagstone battle stage. The place was sealed, and outsiders could not watch without permission. Wei Yang stood at the center. Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing stood opposite him. Fang Ming stood outside the stage with his arms folded, watching quietly.
The spar began.
Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing moved at the same time. One went left, one went right. Their cooperation was fast and clean. They did not speak, but their timing matched well. Fang Yuan pressured from the front, while Bai Ning Bing cut towards the side with cold killing intent.
Wei Yang did not panic.
A golden light appeared around his body, forming a thin armor.
Defense Gu.
Then his hands moved.
Two broadswords of light appeared in his palms.
Attack Gu.
His footwork shifted, not fast enough to vanish, but steady enough to keep distance and angle.
Movement method.
Fang Ming's gaze became focused. Wei Yang's individual Gu were not shocking. They were not as rare as Shang Yan Fei's Rank five Gu, nor as strange as Fang Yuan's bone path methods. But they matched. Defense, attack, movement; each one supported the other. When Fang Yuan pressed close, the golden armor gave Wei Yang confidence to receive the first exchange. When Bai Ning Bing attacked from the side, the broadsword light forced her to adjust. When both tried to close in together, Wei Yang's movement pulled the fight back into a manageable angle.
This was the value of a Gu set.
Fang Ming's own Gu were strong, but scattered. Moon path attack. Smoke path movement. Lightning movement. Defensive Gu from different origins. Healing Gu. Blood Oath Gu. Useful, but not harmonious.
Strong Gu could be countered, or restricted.
A proper set gave stability, and controle over battle.
On the stage, Fang Yuan suddenly accelerated. His body rushed forward, direct and fierce. White bone shields circled him, and a layer of defense covered his body. He did not avoid Wei Yang's broadsword light. He used defense to force a close exchange.
Wei Yang's blades landed.
Fang Yuan's defense shook, but his fist had already reached Wei Yang's abdomen.
Bang.
Wei Yang was forced back.
At almost the same time, Bai Ning Bing attacked. Spiral bone spears shot out with ruthless precision. She did not hold back much. Even in a spar, her instinct was to kill. Wei Yang's golden armor flickered. His body twisted, avoiding the most dangerous point, while one broadsword light cut through several bone spears.
Fang Ming watched Bai Ning Bing carefully.
Battle genius.
That phrase was not empty. Her timing was sharp. Her decisions were fast. She did not hesitate, did not waste motion, and did not care about making the exchange look polite.
Then Fang Ming looked at Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan's movements were less beautiful than Bai Ning Bing's, but they were more troublesome. He tested, adjusted, pressured, and retreated with purpose. Every movement had a reason. He did not chase advantage blindly, and he did not fear disadvantage. Even when Wei Yang forced him back, Fang Yuan used the retreat to change position and create space for Bai Ning Bing.
This was experience.
Fang Ming's eyes narrowed slightly. Individually, Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing were dangerous. And together, they were worse. Their relationship was full of distrust, but their battle cooperation was still smooth. They understood each other's tempo. They knew when to cover, when to press, and when to let the other take risk.
Forced teamwork was still teamwork.
On the stage, Wei Yang laughed.
"Good!"
His golden armor brightened. The broadsword light in his hands grew sharper. He stopped retreating and stepped forward. The fight became faster. Fang Yuan rushed in again. Bai Ning Bing moved from the side. Wei Yang met them head-on, blades crossing in a bright arc.
Light flashed across the flagstone stage.
Fang Ming watched without blinking.
Wei Yang's complete set.
Bai Ning Bing's battle talent.
Fang Yuan's experience.
All of it was worth studying.
Previously, Fang Ming had been on the clock.
He did not have much time to create his own fighting style. He used whatever Gu was available to him. There was no systematic structure, no proper set where one Gu complemented another.
He fought crudely, relying mostly on brute strength, higher rank, and practical advantage.
But now, watching this fight, his view changed again.
Wei Yang's Gu were not individually overwhelming, but together they controlled the battle. Defense, attack, movement — each part supported the others. With a proper set and a systematic fighting style, Wei Yang could face a battle genius like Bai Ning Bing and a monster like Fang Yuan at the same time.
Fang Ming was Rank four, but even he would struggle to achieve the same result with his current scattered Gu.
He had known from the original story that true experts built Gu sets that complemented each other.
But knowing was one thing.
Seeing it with his own eyes was another.
Now that he had seen it, his impression deepened.
Fang Ming's resolve became firmer.
He needed his own Gu set.