Several days passed after the banquet.
Shang clan city did not slow down because of anyone. Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing continued to be guided around by Wei Yang. Sometimes Fang Ming followed them, and sometimes he refused. When he did not go out, he stayed in his rented courtyard, studying refinement manuals, sorting Gu food records, and going to shops to look for materials when necessary.
Wei Yang did not mind this.
He was very patient.
That day, Wei Yang brought the three of them to a quiet tea house near the battle zone. The tea house was not large, but it was clean and peaceful. Looking outside from the window, one could faintly see the flow of Gu Masters entering and leaving the battle zone. Some had excited faces, some were covered in injuries, and some walked silently with lowered heads. In Shang clan city, the battle zone was both a place of opportunity and a place where people learned how much their strength was truly worth.
After the tea was served, Wei Yang began speaking.
"A Gu Master's cultivation has three main aspects."
He lifted three fingers.
"Nurture, use, and refinement."
Fang Ming listened quietly.
Wei Yang continued: "Nurturing Gu means feeding them and maintaining them. Using Gu means relying on them to fight, move, investigate, defend, support, and survive. Refining Gu means improving, advancing, replacing, or creating Gu."
He paused before saying: "None of these three are simple."
Fang Yuan drank tea calmly. Bai Ning Bing looked out of the window, as if uninterested, but her ears were clearly listening. Fang Ming also agreed with this in his heart. His cultivation had risen very quickly. Too quickly. He had copied useful Gu, bought useful Gu, and taken useful Gu when the chance appeared, but these Gu did not form a complete system.
Eclipse Moonlight Gu.
Thousand Mile Smoke Gu.
Mountain Shell Gu.
Thunderwings Gu.
Spring Grass Gu.
Lightning Eye Gu.
Blood Oath Gu.
Each one had value.
But value alone was not enough.
A pile of precious Gu did not mean a strong Gu Master, just like a pile of good bricks did not mean a strong fortress.
Wei Yang looked at Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing. "Many people think cultivation rank decides everything. That is wrong. Rank is important, but Gu worms decide what a Gu Master can actually do."
He then continued: "Rank three is usually the point where a Gu Master chooses a direction. At rank one and rank two, most Gu Masters use whatever Gu they can obtain. But after reaching rank three, one should start building a set."
"A set?" Bai Ning Bing asked.
"Yes." Wei Yang nodded. "Gu worms should complement each other. Attack, defense, movement, investigation, support — they should not conflict. Their feeding should be manageable. Their refinement routes should not be impossible. Their effects should cover each other's weaknesses."
He lifted his cup and took a sip.
"A single strong Gu can win one exchange."
"But a proper Gu set can decide an entire battle."
Fang Ming thought of Wei Yang's previous fight. Wei Yang's Gu were not extremely frightening when viewed separately, but when placed together, they became steady and complete. Defense protected his advance. Movement controlled the distance. Attack forced pressure. Each Gu supported another. That was why he could fight Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing together.
Wei Yang placed down his cup.
"So I will ask you three. What direction do you want?"
"Attack." Fang Yuan said.
"Attack." Bai Ning Bing also said.
Wei Yang's mouth twitched slightly.
As expected.
These two people really gave the same answer.
He smiled helplessly and looked at Fang Yuan first. "What core?"
"Strength path." Fang Yuan replied.
Wei Yang frowned slightly. "Strength path is cheap and common. Many demonic Gu Masters choose strength path because they lack resources. In the early stage, strength path is simple and direct. But later, the road becomes narrow. It is difficult to walk far."
Fang Yuan smiled.
"Paths are made by people."
Wei Yang looked at him, then sighed. This Hei Tu was stubborn.
Then he looked at Bai Ning Bing. "What about you?"
"Ice path." Bai Ning Bing said directly.
Wei Yang nodded. "That suits you better."
Finally, Wei Yang looked at Fang Ming.
"And you, Young Master Fang Ming?"
Fang Ming placed down his tea cup. "I need more time to think."
Wei Yang was not surprised. "That is also a good answer. Choosing a path is not something to rush."
Fang Ming nodded.
On the surface, he was still thinking.
But in truth, he had already chosen.
Strength path.
The reason was not only the Three Kings inheritance. That was part of it, but not everything. Fang Yuan would walk the strength path for a period of time. Hei Lou Lan in Northern Plains also had great value. In the future, there would be strength path Gu, strength path methods, and even strength path Immortal Gu. For Fang Ming, who had the copy system, this path was very attractive.
Others had to search.
Others had to trade.
Others had to fight, steal, refine, or scheme.
But he could copy.
He already had a foundation in strength from Chi Shan and Xiong Li. His body was stronger than ordinary Gu Masters. If he built a public strength path Gu set, it could explain much of his physical strength and also hide other things.
Blood path would remain hidden.
Blood Oath Gu was already in his hands. Shang Yan Fei still had Blood Handprint Gu, Blood Robe Gu, Blood Shadow Escape Gu, Blood Sense Gu, and Blood Revival Gu. Each one was tempting. Each one was useful. If Fang Ming could copy them one by one, he would have a hidden rank five blood path trump card set.
Furthermore, blood path Gu were easier to feed.
This was very important.
Feeding burdens could kill a Gu Master as surely as enemies.
Thus, Fang Ming's plan was simple.
Outwardly, he would walk strength path.
Secretly, he would collect blood path.
One public set.
One hidden set.
One facing the light.
One hiding in the dark.
After leaving Wei Yang, Fang Ming did not immediately return to his courtyard.
He went to Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
This time, his treatment was completely different. The moment he showed the Purple Thorn Token, the attendant's expression changed. His back bent slightly, and his tone became more respectful.
"Esteemed lord, please enter."
The same pavilion. The same smell of tea, incense, jade boxes, and Gu food. But the doors were much easier to open.
Fang Ming entered a private room and directly said: "I want to see the Yellow Gold Relic Gu."
This time, the attendant did not refuse.
"Esteemed lord, please wait a moment."
Soon, Fang Ming was brought to the display area. The Yellow Gold Relic Gu was still sealed inside the transparent jade container. Its body shone with deep golden light.
Over thirty thousand primeval stones.
Token restricted.
Rank four cultivation Gu.
With it, Fang Ming could advance from rank four initial stage to rank four middle stage.
The attendant stood respectfully beside him.
"With esteemed lord's token, you have the qualification to purchase it. However, the price remains the same."
Fang Ming looked at the Gu silently.
"I will consider it."
This was very normal. No one would casually buy a Gu worth over thirty thousand primeval stones without thinking. The attendant waited quietly. Fang Ming stood close to the display case, his expression calm.
The copy began.
It took time.
The Yellow Gold Relic Gu was rank four, and its value was very high. But compared to Blood Oath Gu, it was still much easier. Fang Ming was not anxious. He looked just like a Rank four Gu Master carefully considering the price, his cultivation, and his future plans.
After a while, the copy completed.
A copied Yellow Gold Relic Gu appeared in his system space.
Fang Ming did not leave immediately. He asked several more questions about other rank four Gu, token restrictions, auction rules, and recent arrivals from outside clans. Only after enough time passed did he shake his head.
"The price is still too high. I will wait."
The attendant smiled politely. "Relic Gu are always difficult to obtain. Esteemed lord may return whenever you wish."
Fang Ming nodded and left.
Outside the pavilion, the streets were still bright. Gu Masters came and went like flowing water. Some were rich, some were desperate, some had talent, some had backing, and some had both.
Fang Ming walked calmly through the crowd.
He now had the Yellow Gold Relic Gu.
He could use it immediately.
But he did not.
Not yet.
Rank four middle stage was useful, but it was not urgent. He was inside Shang clan city now. Rules and order gave him breathing room. More importantly, advancing cultivation was not his only problem.
His foundation was shallow.
His Gu system was scattered.
His refinement knowledge was poor.
His understanding of other paths was not enough.
Zombie Mountain had already taught him a lesson. He had known that Ding Hao existed. He had known that there was a controller. But he could not find him. He had known that zombies were being commanded, but he lacked the method to locate the person behind them. In the end, he had still relied on Fang Yuan's experience.
This could not continue.
If he wanted to survive future battles, he could not only know names and outcomes. He had to understand methods.
Fang Ming returned to his courtyard.
He closed the gate and entered the stone chamber. Refinement materials were placed neatly on the table. Manuals were stacked beside them. He took out the Yellow Gold Relic Gu and looked at it for a moment.
The Gu was golden and bright, as if it could directly raise his strength.
But Fang Ming only looked at it.
Then he stored it away.
The Gu was valuable.
But patience was also valuable.
Fang Ming opened a refinement manual.
His public road would be strength path.
His hidden road would be blood path.
But before either road could truly form, he needed knowledge.
Nurture.
Use.
Refinement.
These three were the foundation of a Gu Master.
He had climbed too fast.
Now, he had to make up for what he had skipped.