Shang Xin Ci had won.
During the past months, her business had grown quickly. The battle-stage information business succeeded, Zhou Quan stabilized the management, and Fang Yuan's plans brought profit at key moments. Shang Yi Fan struggled, pressured, and schemed, but in the end, he failed. Shang Xin Ci became one of Shang clan's ten young masters.
This was a great step for her.
But for Fang Ming, Fang Yuan, and Bai Ning Bing, it also meant one thing.
It was time to leave.
Before leaving Shang clan city, Fang Ming invited Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing to a private room.
There was wine on the table, but none of them came for wine.
Fang Yuan sat down and smiled faintly. "It seems Brother Fang Ming wants to settle the agreement."
"Yes." Fang Ming said. "Before we head to San Cha Mountain, the alliance should be fixed."
Bai Ning Bing leaned back. "Temporary alliance."
"Temporary." Fang Ming agreed. "Until the Three Kings Inheritance ends."
The terms had already been discussed before.
No attacking each other.
No plotting against each other.
No using outside forces to suppress, trap, or kill each other.
No deliberately breaking the agreement before the inheritance ended.
Once the Three Kings Inheritance ended, all restrictions would disappear.
After that, they could separate, fight, scheme, or kill as they wished.
There was no false friendship in this agreement.
Only calculation.
But this time, Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing had clearly prepared seriously.
Fang Ming understood why.
He was Rank five now.
Even if he did not reveal many Rank five Gu, cultivation alone mattered. The difference between Rank four and Rank five was not small. At lower ranks, crossing realms was possible with good Gu, strong talent, and a proper set. A Rank one might fight a Rank two. A Rank two might challenge a Rank three. Even Rank three against Rank four was possible under special conditions.
But the higher one climbed, the wider the gap became.
Rank five stood at the peak of the mortal realm.
For Rank four Gu Masters, facing Rank five was a different matter entirely.
Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing were both dangerous. They had talent, experience, and strong Gu sets. But even they would not casually believe they could kill a Rank five Gu Master head-on.
Especially not Fang Ming.
So they did not come casually.
Fang Yuan took out a Gu.
It was small and strange, with a faint oath-like aura around it. The Gu looked ordinary at first glance, but its aura was obscure and hard to read. It was clearly not something easy to break.
Bai Ning Bing also took out her own Gu.
Cold air spread faintly from her palm.
Fang Ming looked at them, then raised his hand.
A blood-colored Gu appeared.
The moment it appeared, the room became quiet.
Fang Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly.
Bai Ning Bing's gaze sharpened.
Rank five aura.
Blood path.
Fang Ming spoke calmly: "Blood Oath Gu."
Fang Yuan looked at him for a moment.
A Rank five Gu.
And a blood-path Gu at that.
Owning a Rank five Gu was not easy. Fang Yuan understood this deeply. Even for a Rank five Gu Master, obtaining suitable Rank five Gu required opportunity, wealth, and backing.
Fang Ming had only advanced recently, yet he already had a Rank five Gu.
This meant he had either prepared deeply beforehand, obtained a rare opportunity, or received support from a major force.
Shang clan immediately came to mind.
Shang clan had blood-path resources, and Shang Yan Fei himself walked blood path. It was not impossible that Shang clan had given Fang Ming this Gu to recruit him, bind him, or draw him closer as an external elder.
Bai Ning Bing also had similar thoughts.
Fang Ming was already Rank five.
Now he had shown a Rank five Gu.
The threat became much clearer.
Fang Yuan laughed softly. "Brother Fang Ming hid deeper than I thought."
Bai Ning Bing stared at the Blood Oath Gu. "A Rank five blood-path Gu. You really are full of surprises."
Fang Ming did not explain.
There was no need.
Let them guess.
Showing Blood Oath Gu was already a calculated reveal. He did not show Blood Robe Gu. He did not show Blood Handprint Gu. He did not show his full hidden set.
One Rank five blood-path Gu was enough.
Enough to make them cautious.
Enough to make them value the agreement.
The three activated their Gu one after another.
Blood light rose from Fang Ming's side.
Fang Yuan's vow method released a strange, restrained pressure.
Bai Ning Bing's method formed a cold mark in the air.
The three forces overlapped, forming a layered agreement.
Each side trusted their own method most.
Fang Ming trusted Blood Oath Gu.
It was Rank five. To break it quickly would require a method of similar level. Even with his copy system, Rank five Gu were difficult to obtain. He did not believe Fang Yuan or Bai Ning Bing could easily break this oath before the inheritance ended.
Fang Yuan also looked calm.
His vow method was rare. To break it required a specific counterpart that was not easy to find.
Bai Ning Bing's expression remained cold, but after the agreement formed, even she relaxed slightly.
None of them trusted each other.
But all three felt relief.
Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing did not want to face a Rank five Gu Master during the inheritance.
Fang Ming also did not want to waste strength fighting them before the inheritance ended.
The agreement did not create friendship.
It only made betrayal more expensive.
For them, that was enough.
Fang Yuan raised his cup.
"Then until the Three Kings Inheritance ends."
Fang Ming lifted his cup. "Until then."
Bai Ning Bing also raised hers.
The three drank.
After the agreement, the room felt less tense. Not warm. Only safer. That was enough.
Later, Fang Ming went to see Shang Xin Ci.
She was standing in a courtyard, dressed more formally than before. After becoming a young master, her position had changed. Servants followed her, reports waited for her, and people now watched her every move. But when she saw Fang Ming, her expression softened.
"You are leaving." she said.
"Yes."
"With Brother Hei Tu and Bai Ning Bing?"
"Yes. San Cha Mountain."
Shang Xin Ci lowered her eyes. "I knew this day would come."
Fang Ming walked beside her.
"You became a young master. That is good."
"It is only the beginning." Shang Xin Ci said softly.
Fang Ming smiled faintly. "Good. You understand."
She looked at him.
Fang Ming said: "The young master position is only one step. Above it is the young clan leader. Above that are the elders, Shang Yan Fei, and the supreme elders. And above the mortal world, there are Gu Immortals."
Shang Xin Ci listened quietly.
"Do not let Shang clan city become the ceiling of your vision." Fang Ming continued. "You can cultivate now. Walk slowly, but keep walking."
Her hands tightened slightly.
"Will you come back?"
Fang Ming was silent for a moment.
"One day."
Shang Xin Ci looked at him. "That sounds very far away."
"It may be."
The courtyard became quiet.
Fang Ming looked at her and said: "I hope the next time we meet after a long separation, we will not be speaking as ordinary mortals."
Shang Xin Ci's eyes trembled slightly.
"You mean…"
"I hope both of us will become Gu Immortals."
For a moment, Shang Xin Ci did not speak.
Gu Immortal.
That was too far.
Too high.
Too unreal.
But coming from Fang Ming's mouth, it did not sound like empty comfort. It sounded like a road. A road he had already chosen.
Shang Xin Ci lowered her head. "Then I will work hard."
Fang Ming nodded.
"You are smart, and you know how to gather people. That is your strength. Do not abandon it."
"I will remember."
Xiao Die stood nearby, eyes red. Zhang Zhu also stood farther away, silent and complicated.
Fang Ming did not say much more.
Farewells should not be dragged too long.
At the city gate, Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing were already waiting. Fang Yuan wore a calm smile. Bai Ning Bing stood with her arms crossed, cold as usual.
Fang Ming joined them.
Behind them was Shang clan city.
Ahead was San Cha Mountain.
Three Kings Inheritance.
Righteous and demonic Gu Masters would gather there. Blood would flow. Opportunities would appear. Death would come with benefits.
Fang Ming looked back once.
Shang Xin Ci stood in the distance, watching them leave.
She did not call out.
She only watched.
Fang Ming turned away.
The alliance was active.
The road ahead had opened.
The three walked out of Shang clan city.