San Cha Mountain did not stay quiet for long.
Fang Ming's arrival had created a strange calm in the middle area. Righteous and demonic Gu Masters still fought elsewhere, caves still changed hands, and people still died over information, grudges, and profit. But near his dwelling, most people lowered their voices and minded their own business. He did not drive anyone away. He did not ask who was righteous and who was demonic. As long as no one caused trouble near him, he ignored them.
That balance lasted until Tie Mu Bai arrived.
Tie Mu Bai was a famous righteous path expert, an old Rank five peak stage Gu Master of Tie clan. The moment he appeared, the righteous path seemed to gain a banner. Those who had hesitated before now stood straighter. Those who had been pressured by demonic cultivators began moving together. Under his pressure, demonic Gu Masters were pushed away, caves were seized, entrances were watched, and anyone with a demonic reputation was blocked from entering the inheritance.
The demonic path cursed, but few dared to resist.
Tie Mu Bai was not an ordinary Rank five.
He was an old monster backed by Tie clan.
Then his attention turned toward Fang Ming.
On the mountain path, Tie Mu Bai stood with his hands behind his back. Golden light faintly flowed around him. Behind him stood several righteous Gu Masters, all watching coldly. Fang Ming stood opposite him, his expression calm. Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing watched from the side.
Tie Mu Bai spoke first.
"Gu Yue Fang Ming, you arrived with Fang Zheng and Bai Ning Bing. Both are known demonic Gu Masters. You stayed here and allowed demonic cultivators to move freely around you. You did not uphold righteousness, nor did you stop the chaos."
His gaze became heavier.
"Tell me, do you consider yourself righteous path?"
Fang Ming smiled faintly.
"So this is why Senior Tie came?"
"San Cha Mountain cannot remain lawless." Tie Mu Bai said. "The Three Kings Inheritance is dangerous. If demonic Gu Masters are allowed to act freely, many people will suffer."
Fang Ming looked behind him at the righteous Gu Masters.
"So you block the demonic path, seize the caves, control the entrances, and call it righteousness?"
Several righteous Gu Masters frowned.
Tie Mu Bai's expression did not change.
Fang Ming continued: "When I let people enter freely, you call me selfish because I did not stand for the righteous path. But when you block others for your own benefit, you call it protecting order."
His voice was calm.
"What you want is not righteousness. You want control."
The mountain path fell silent.
Fang Yuan smiled faintly.
Bai Ning Bing's eyes became sharper.
Tie Mu Bai looked at Fang Ming for a long moment.
"Young people are always sharp with words."
Fang Ming replied: "Old people are always good at borrowing banners."
The air changed.
Tie Mu Bai's aura rose.
Fang Ming's aura rose at the same time.
Rank five peak.
The righteous Gu Masters behind Tie Mu Bai were shocked.
"Rank five peak?"
"How can he be Rank five peak already?"
"Was he not newly advanced?"
Even Tie Mu Bai's eyes narrowed slightly. He had known Fang Ming was Rank five, but he had expected a newly advanced Rank five. Initial stage, perhaps middle stage. At most upper stage if Fang Ming had a rare opportunity.
Not peak stage.
Fang Yuan's gaze deepened.
Bai Ning Bing's expression became grave.
Fang Ming had hidden too much.
Tie Mu Bai's surprise lasted only a breath.
Then golden light flashed.
The battle began.
At first, neither side used Rank five Gu. Golden light swept forward like a blade. Moonlight cut through the air. Smoke twisted around the mountain path. Stone cracked under their feet. Fang Ming used Eclipse Moonlight Gu, Thousand Mile Smoke Gu, Mountain Shell Gu, and other Rank four methods. With Rank five peak primeval essence supporting them, even Rank four Gu showed terrifying power.
But Tie Mu Bai's methods were different.
His Gu worked together smoothly. Attack, defense, movement, pressure — each step connected to the next. His experience was deep, and his rhythm was steady. Fang Ming's public Gu set was strong, but incomplete. Some Gu supported strength path. Some were movement. Some were defense. Some were copied from different people and different systems. They were powerful pieces, but not a complete board.
Tie Mu Bai slowly pressed forward.
Fang Ming retreated several steps.
Golden light struck Mountain Shell Gu.
Boom!
The stone path under Fang Ming cracked.
Tie Mu Bai said calmly: "Your cultivation is high, but your foundation is scattered."
Fang Ming wiped away a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth.
"You are right."
Then he smiled.
"But scattered strength is still strength."
Tyrannical Dash Gu activated.
Fang Ming vanished.
Tie Mu Bai's expression shifted.
In the next instant, Fang Ming appeared before him like a violent shadow.
Fast.
Too fast.
Even without the true impact of Tyrannical Crash Gu, Tyrannical Dash Gu was still Rank five. Its short burst movement instantly broke Tie Mu Bai's rhythm.
Fang Ming punched out.
Tie Mu Bai raised his hand.
Golden armor formed around him.
Rank five defensive Gu.
Bang!
The collision exploded outward.
The mountain path broke apart. A violent shockwave swept through the surroundings. Rank three Gu Masters were thrown back while screaming. Even Rank four Gu Masters retreated quickly, their faces pale.
"Rank five Gu!"
"He has a Rank five movement Gu!"
"Move back!"
The spectators fled.
No one dared stay close.
Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing also retreated. Bai Ning Bing's eyes were cold.
"So this is Rank five."
Fang Yuan watched the battlefield quietly. "Tie Mu Bai still has the advantage in experience."
"But Fang Ming has Rank five Gu."
"Exactly." Fang Yuan said. "At this level, Gu matter too much. Many Rank five Gu Masters do not even own suitable Rank five Gu. Tie Mu Bai has Tie clan behind him, so his foundation is deep. Fang Ming looks like a lone cultivator, yet he has Rank five Gu already."
Bai Ning Bing looked at Fang Ming's figure through the dust.
"Shang clan?"
"Most likely." Fang Yuan said softly. "Or something deeper."
On the battlefield, Fang Ming used Tyrannical Dash again.
His body crossed the distance in a burst.
Tie Mu Bai's golden defense flashed.
Another explosion.
Rocks shattered.
Dust filled the air.
This time, Tie Mu Bai was forced back half a step.
The righteous Gu Masters watching from far away were stunned.
Tie Mu Bai had been pushed back.
Only half a step.
But it was still Tie Mu Bai.
Fang Ming did not feel proud. Tyrannical Dash Gu consumed too much primeval essence. His body also suffered pressure with every activation. More importantly, Tie Mu Bai had only revealed one Rank five defensive Gu.
He definitely had more.
Tie Mu Bai also understood something.
Fang Ming had revealed one Rank five Gu.
But did he only have one?
No one knew.
The two stood apart.
Dust slowly settled between them.
Tie Mu Bai's golden armor shone faintly. Fang Ming's breathing was steady, but his muscles ached from the repeated dashes.
Neither side moved.
After a long silence, Tie Mu Bai spoke.
"Good. You are qualified to stand here."
Fang Ming smiled. "I was already standing here before Senior Tie came."
Tie Mu Bai looked at him deeply.
Then his aura slowly withdrew.
Fang Ming also withdrew his aura.
The battle ended.
No victory.
No defeat.
Only a new balance.
Tie Mu Bai had not come only for righteousness. Fang Ming knew this. Fang Yuan knew this. Many old Gu Masters knew this too. The Three Kings Inheritance was the real goal. No one wanted to reveal all their trump cards before the true opportunity appeared.
Tie Mu Bai could not ignore Fang Ming anymore.
Fang Ming could not casually suppress Tie Mu Bai either.
From that day onward, San Cha Mountain changed again.
The righteous path still followed Tie Mu Bai.
The demonic path still feared him.
But Fang Ming's dwelling became a third point.
Not righteous.
Not demonic.
Not weak enough to be swallowed.
Near his area, people lowered their voices and avoided trouble.
Fang Yuan looked toward Fang Ming's dwelling from afar and smiled.
"This is useful."
Bai Ning Bing asked: "For us?"
"For everyone." Fang Yuan said. "A balance is always useful before chaos."
Bai Ning Bing looked at him. "And when chaos comes?"
Fang Yuan's smile faded slightly.
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