San Cha Mountain became more crowded with each passing day.
At first, Fang Ming's Rank five peak aura had been enough to silence most trouble near his dwelling. Then Tie Mu Bai arrived, and righteous path Gu Masters found a banner. After that, more experts came one after another.
Li Fei Le.
Zhang San San.
Tao Zi.
Wang Xiao.
Wu Lan Shan.
Chou Jiu.
Some were righteous path. Some were demonic path. Some stood between the two, caring only about benefits. San Cha Mountain was no longer a place where one Rank five aura could suppress everyone.
The real monsters were gathering.
Inside a cave, Tie Mu Bai stood with Tie Ruo Nan.
He looked toward the three mountain peaks and said slowly: "Every blessed land faces calamity and tribulation. This blessed land has existed for too long. It has no land spirit left to control it, so it is like a great boat sinking into the sea."
Tie Ruo Nan listened quietly.
Tie Mu Bai continued: "The more people enter, the more they plunder, the faster the boat sinks. Once it collapses, the wind of assimilation will blow. Everything inside will be broken down and returned to heaven and earth."
"Even Gu Immortals fear that wind?" Tie Ruo Nan asked.
"Yes."
Tie Ruo Nan's expression changed.
Tie Mu Bai looked calm. "But there is still time. As the blessed land weakens, the restrictions inside will loosen. At first, Gu Masters can only use a few methods. Later, they will be able to use more and more. At the final stage, the restrictions will nearly vanish."
His gaze became deep.
"That will be the true decisive battle."
Tie Ruo Nan understood.
So Tie Mu Bai had not fought Fang Ming to the death. So Wu Gui and Ku Mo would not fight to the death either. Everyone was waiting. The true goal was not reputation.
It was the inheritance.
At the same time, Fang Ming sat in his dwelling, looking at a map of San Cha Mountain.
He did not need Tie Mu Bai to explain the truth to him.
He already knew.
The blessed land was dying.
A sinking ship.
Everyone entering it was taking planks from the hull. The more they gained, the closer destruction came.
Fang Ming tapped the map lightly.
"Restrictions will weaken. Experts will gather. Then the real battle begins."
His current strength was no longer low.
Rank five peak stage.
Tyrannical Dash Gu.
Blood Oath Gu.
Blood Robe Gu.
Blood Handprint Gu.
White Lotus Healing Gu.
Cut Time Blood.
But the more experts arrived, the more Fang Ming understood one thing.
He could not be careless.
Tie Mu Bai had a complete set. Wang Xiao was a poison path overlord. Wu Lan Shan represented Wu clan. Chou Jiu was one of the four great doctors. Each of them had methods, reputation, and hidden cards. Fang Ming had many strong Gu, but strong Gu did not equal invincibility.
He needed timing.
He needed position.
He needed to be close to the right place when Fixed Immortal Travel appeared.
That was his true target.
The outer inheritance rewards did not matter much anymore. Some Rank three Gu, some Rank four Gu, some materials; for others, they were treasures, but for Fang Ming, they were only side gains.
His real preparation was elsewhere.
He had already gained experience from King Quan Inheritance.
He had already created Cut Time Blood.
Now he had to preserve strength and wait.
A knock came from outside.
"Enter."
Fang Yuan walked in.
Behind him was Bai Ning Bing.
The two did not sit immediately. Bai Ning Bing looked at the map on the table, while Fang Yuan smiled faintly.
"Brother Fang Ming seems very calm."
"Should I be anxious?"
"The mountain is filling with Rank five experts." Fang Yuan said. "Most people would feel pressure."
Fang Ming looked at him. "Do you?"
Fang Yuan smiled and sat down.
Bai Ning Bing sat too, her expression cold.
Fang Ming poured tea.
"For now, more experts are useful." Fang Ming said. "The righteous path cannot monopolize the mountain. The demonic path cannot act freely. Everyone restrains everyone else."
Fang Yuan nodded. "A temporary balance."
"Until the restrictions weaken."
Bai Ning Bing's eyes moved. "You know about that too?"
Fang Ming looked at her. "Anyone who observes long enough can guess. The inheritance openings are shortening. The pillars are weakening. The blessed land is decaying."
Fang Yuan's smile deepened.
He did not ask further.
The three sat quietly for a moment.
Their alliance still held.
None of them trusted the others, but the oaths made betrayal expensive. For now, that was enough.
Fang Yuan said: "The next opening should be soon."
"Yes." Fang Ming replied. "But there is no need to rush to the deepest point yet."
Bai Ning Bing frowned slightly. "Still waiting?"
"The first to charge often becomes the first to die." Fang Ming said.
Fang Yuan laughed softly. "Good words."
Fang Ming glanced at him.
Fang Yuan was also waiting.
He knew more than he showed. He was preparing for the same storm, though his final goal might not match Fang Ming's.
That did not matter.
For now, their roads still overlapped.
After Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing left, Fang Ming remained seated.
Outside, San Cha Mountain was restless. Righteous path Gu Masters gathered under Tie Mu Bai. Demonic path Gu Masters looked toward Wu Gui, Ku Mo, Wang Xiao, and others. Neutral Gu Masters tried to survive between them.
No one dared ignore Fang Ming's dwelling, but no one treated him as the only threat anymore.
That was good.
Too much attention was dangerous.
Fang Ming closed his eyes and adjusted his breathing.
He reviewed Cut Time Blood again.
Five uses at most.
After that, his primeval essence would be nearly exhausted.
It was not a normal attack. It was a blade saved for the moment when ordinary methods failed. Inside the blessed land, if restrictions sealed his Gu, Cut Time Blood might be the difference between survival and death.
Time passed.
Then, one morning, the mountain shook.
Three pillars of light rose again.
Yellow.
Blue.
Red.
The inheritance opened.
Gu Masters across San Cha Mountain looked up.
Some were excited.
Some were afraid.
Some rushed forward immediately.
Fang Ming stepped out of his dwelling and looked at the pillars.
The blessed land was still sinking.
The real storm had not arrived yet.
But it was closer.
He walked toward the entrance calmly.
This time, he would still observe.
Still learn.
Still wait.
Because when the final stage opened, hesitation would no longer be allowed.