They finally reached San Cha Mountain.
The atmosphere here was completely different from Shang clan city. There were no city rules, no guards maintaining order, and no one to stop a fight before it began. Righteous Gu Masters gathered in groups, watching everything with guarded eyes, while demonic Gu Masters acted more freely, their laughter loud and their killing intent barely hidden.
Small conflicts broke out everywhere.
Some people fought over caves. Some fought over information. Some fought because they looked at each other wrongly. This was only the edge of the Three Kings Inheritance, but before they even entered, the smell of blood was already in the air.
Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing were quickly recognized.
"Black and white twin demons…"
"That is little beast king?"
"And Bai Ning Bing?"
The nearby Gu Masters lowered their voices. Fang Yuan's reputation from Shang clan city had already spread. Bai Ning Bing's cold killing nature was also known. Together, the two were enough to make many people step back.
But then their eyes moved to Fang Ming.
They did not know him.
Yet he walked beside those two calmly.
That alone made people cautious. Someone who could travel with the black and white twin demons without fear could not be ordinary.
Ahead, a commotion appeared.
Several demonic Gu Masters were surrounding a female Gu Master. Her clothes were torn, her face was pale with fear, and her voice trembled as she begged for help.
"Save me… please save me…"
The demonic Gu Masters laughed loudly.
Righteous Gu Masters watched from the side, but no one moved. Some looked angry. Some looked away. Some wanted to help, but after hearing the names of those demonic Gu Masters, they held back. The female Gu Master staggered toward Fang Yuan, Bai Ning Bing, and Fang Ming.
"My lords, please save me!"
Fang Yuan looked down at her coldly.
Bai Ning Bing watched without expression.
Fang Ming did not look at her for long.
He knew this kind of scene.
A test.
A trap.
Or both.
He had no interest in letting it continue.
Fang Ming took one step forward.
Then he released his aura.
Rank five.
In an instant, the entire area froze.
The laughter stopped.
The demonic Gu Masters who had been reaching toward the woman stiffened like statues. The righteous Gu Masters nearby widened their eyes. Even those farther away turned their heads sharply.
Rank five aura spread across the foot of San Cha Mountain like an invisible blade.
At this moment, there were no Rank five Gu Masters here yet. The people gathered here were mostly Rank three and Rank four. To them, Rank five was the peak of the mortal realm. A Rank five Gu Master could crush most of them unless they ran early or gathered in large numbers.
But no one knew Fang Ming.
That made it worse.
Was he righteous path?
Demonic path?
A lone expert?
A hidden elder from some clan?
No one knew.
And because no one knew, no one dared move.
The female Gu Master's frightened expression stiffened for a brief instant.
Fang Ming's gaze passed over her lightly. He did not expose her. He did not scold her. He did not kill anyone. He simply withdrew his aura and walked forward.
Fang Yuan smiled faintly and followed.
Bai Ning Bing glanced once at the female Gu Master, then also walked away.
The demonic Gu Masters immediately stepped back. Their lust and arrogance vanished. No one continued the farce. No one even dared to speak loudly until the three had passed.
Only after Fang Ming was some distance away did sound slowly return.
"That person… Rank five?"
"Who is he?"
"He came with the black and white twin demons…"
"Since when did they have a Rank five expert with them?"
Some Gu Masters left the area immediately. Some stayed, but their expressions became much more restrained. The woman who had been acting helpless lowered her head. Her eyes no longer held fear, but interest.
Hu Mei Er.
She had wanted to test the black and white twin demons.
She did not expect a Rank five Gu Master to be walking with them.
A newly arrived Rank five had changed the atmosphere before her play could even begin.
Fang Ming did not care what she thought.
He knew enough to be cautious. Rank five could intimidate everyone here for now, but it was not enough to run wild forever. Soon, other Rank five Gu Masters would arrive. Righteous path experts. Demonic path experts. People with hidden backgrounds. People with Gu Immortal connections.
Hu Mei Er herself had Granny Mei Hua behind her. Fang Ming knew her face now, but future knowledge from a novel was not the same as personal experience. He could know names and still fail to recognize danger in time.
So he would not act arrogantly.
He had only shown enough strength to stop trouble.
Nothing more.
The three continued up the mountain and chose their dwellings. Fang Ming chose a place in the middle area. It was not close to the righteous path gathering, and it was not close to the demonic path gathering either.
Neutral.
Visible.
Difficult to misunderstand.
Fang Yuan chose another dwelling. Bai Ning Bing chose her own as well.
They had an alliance, but they were not friends.
Each person kept distance.
After Fang Ming settled in, the nearby area quickly quieted. At first, some Gu Masters were nervous. A few left immediately, unwilling to live near an unknown Rank five expert. Others stayed. Soon, they discovered something.
Fang Ming did not chase people away.
He did not rob caves.
He did not force anyone to submit.
He did not ask who was righteous or demonic.
As long as no one caused trouble near his dwelling, he ignored them.
Because of this, a strange calm formed around his residence. Demonic Gu Masters lowered their voices when passing by. Righteous Gu Masters stopped provoking others nearby. People still fought elsewhere, but around Fang Ming's dwelling, they minded their own business.
His presence became a silent boundary.
Inside the dwelling, Fang Ming sat cross-legged.
Two months had passed since he left Shang clan city. During these two months, he had copied two Rank five Relic Gu. He had not used them yet.
Now was the time.
The next opening of the inheritance would mostly be probing. Those who rushed in first would test the dangers. Fang Ming had no need to hurry. He needed to adjust his state, then raise his cultivation.
Fang Ming took out the first Rank five Relic Gu. After inspecting it carefully, he used it.
Purple light flowed into his aperture.
His primeval sea stirred.
Rank five initial stage.
Rank five middle stage.
The rise was smooth. Fang Ming waited, stabilized his aura, and only after a long time did he take out the second Rank five Relic Gu.
He used it as well.
His aperture trembled again.
Rank five middle stage.
Rank five upper stage.
Fang Ming slowly opened his eyes.
Rank five upper stage.
He did not continue toward peak stage.
Not yet.
He still had targets.
Not every useful Gu was strong in battle. Some Gu were weak alone, but essential in the future.
Light of Heaven.
And other materials and Gu related to Fixed Immortal Travel.
Fang Yuan would refine Fixed Immortal Travel later. Fang Ming had no intention of missing that moment. He wanted to be close to the refinement center. Close enough to use Counterfeit Copy.
Fixed Immortal Travel was an Immortal Gu.
A true copy was impossible.
But a counterfeit version?
That was worth risking.
To get close, Fang Ming needed a reason. If he could provide some essential materials, Fang Yuan would find it harder to push him away.
Fang Ming stored away the empty remains of the relic Gu and steadied his breathing.
Rank five upper stage was enough for now.
Enough to intimidate.
Enough to survive.
But not enough to be arrogant.
San Cha Mountain would soon become a storm.
Fang Ming looked toward the mountain peaks.
Three Kings Inheritance was ahead.
Fang Yuan had his plans.
Bai Ning Bing had her own thoughts.
The righteous and demonic paths were gathering.
And Fang Ming had to take what he needed before the storm swallowed everyone.