On the mountain peak, three pillars of light stood silently.
Red, blue, and yellow.
Compared to before, their brilliance had dimmed greatly. Their size had also shrunk by more than half. The light that once pierced the clouds now looked weak and unstable, as if a gust of wind could scatter it at any moment.
The ancient Gu Immortal blessed land had reached its final moments.
It had been remodeled by the three kings and plundered by countless Gu Masters. Every person who entered consumed its foundation. Every Gu worm taken, every material seized, every battle fought inside pushed it closer to death.
It was like a sinking ship.
The hull had already vanished beneath the sea. Only the mast still remained above the waves, giving people the illusion that the ship had not yet sunk.
But those with insight knew.
The end was near.
At the mountain peak, righteous and demonic Gu Masters gathered together. Enemies who would normally fight on sight now restrained themselves. Demonic cultivators suppressed their killing intent, while righteous path Gu Masters maintained their composure.
Huge benefits were in front of them.
At such a time, hatred could be swallowed.
Among the crowd, the Rank five Gu Masters stood at the front. Tie Mu Bai was calm and silent. Wu Lan Shan looked toward him, preparing to speak.
But before she could open her mouth, Fang Ming moved.
Boom!
The ground beneath his feet cracked.
His figure shot forward like a heavy arrow leaving the bow. The air trembled as Tyrannical Dash Gu activated, carrying his body across the mountain peak in an instant.
He did not look at Tie Mu Bai.
He did not ask who should enter first.
He did not care about order, seniority, or reputation.
The blessed land was sinking. He was not here to attend a righteous path ceremony.
Under countless gazes, Fang Ming arrived before the yellow pillar.
King Quan Inheritance.
The yellow light swallowed him.
He vanished.
Only then did the sound of broken stone roll across the mountain peak.
Wu Lan Shan's expression stiffened. The words she had been about to say remained unsaid.
The Rank five Gu Masters frowned.
Fang Ming's action was too direct. He had ignored the unspoken order among experts and stepped over everyone present. Tie Mu Bai was publicly recognized as the strongest Rank five Gu Master on San Cha Mountain. Even demonic path experts like Wu Gui and Ku Mo had to admit this.
Yet Fang Ming had entered before him.
This was not merely impatience.
It was disregard.
Many Gu Masters lowered their voices and discussed among themselves. Fang Ming had fought Tie Mu Bai to a draw before, and now he had entered first without hesitation. No matter how people judged his conduct, no one could treat him as an ordinary outsider anymore.
Tie Mu Bai looked at the yellow pillar where Fang Ming had disappeared. His gaze was deep, but his expression soon returned to calm.
"Then I will go next."
He stepped forward and entered King Xin Inheritance.
After him, the remaining Rank five Gu Masters also chose their entrances. They avoided Tie Mu Bai. They also avoided Fang Ming.
Tie Mu Bai was avoided because his strength was publicly known.
Fang Ming was avoided because his strength was not fully known.
A strong enemy was troublesome.
An unknown strong enemy was even more troublesome.
None of them wished to bleed before reaching the true decisive stage.
After the Rank five Gu Masters entered, the Rank four peak stage Gu Masters began moving. The crowd remained orderly, not because they trusted each other, but because the benefits were too large.
Profit restrained chaos.
At this moment, inside the yellow pillar, Fang Ming's vision shifted.
The spinning sensation lasted for only a breath. When his sight recovered, he was already standing on a reddish-brown wasteland. The sky above was dull yellow. Around him, dogs of different sizes wandered between stone ridges, growling softly.
King Quan Inheritance.
Enslavement path.
Fang Ming glanced around, then withdrew his gaze.
He did not move to subdue the dog groups.
He did not search for the inheritance rules.
He did not care about the first round's rewards.
Instead, he slowly raised his right hand and placed it against his aperture.
Deep inside, Spring Autumn Tag-Along Gu remained silent.
It was not a true Immortal Gu.
It did not have the ability to activate by itself.
It was only a counterfeit born from Fang Ming's Counterfeit Copy, created from the concept of Spring Autumn Cicada.
But even a counterfeit of Spring Autumn Cicada was not ordinary.
Its aura was faint, ancient, and strange. It carried a thread of time path profundity that surpassed mortal Gu. It was weak, but in this collapsing blessed land, it was enough.
Fang Ming released a trace of that aura.
Only a trace.
The yellow wasteland around him suddenly stilled.
The growling dogs froze.
The wind stopped.
Even the faint pressure of the inheritance seemed to pause for a moment.
Fang Ming looked at the empty sky and said calmly: "Ba Gui."
There was no response.
Fang Ming was not anxious.
He continued: "The old master's obsession has not disappeared. The Second Aperture Gu has not been refined. If you continue sleeping, this blessed land will collapse with his final wish unfinished."
The ground trembled.
A heavy pressure descended.
In front of Fang Ming, space twisted. A huge figure slowly appeared.
It was a tortoise as large as a house. Its shell was like jade, thick and ancient. Its four legs resembled elephant legs, while two dragon whiskers hung from its face. Its eyes were wrinkled and old, but they contained a will that had endured countless years.
The land spirit of the blessed land.
Ba Gui.
It stared at Fang Ming.
"You know me?"
Its voice was heavy, causing the surrounding air to vibrate.
Fang Ming looked at it without fear. "I know you. I also know this blessed land's true origin. It did not originally belong to the three kings."
Ba Gui's eyes changed.
Fang Ming continued: "Its first master was an ancient strength path Gu Immortal. Before dying, his obsession merged with the heavenly power of this blessed land and formed you. His final wish was not King Quan, King Xin, or King Bao."
He paused slightly.
"It was to refine Second Aperture Gu."
Ba Gui became completely silent.
The dogs in the distance remained frozen. The yellow wasteland seemed to have become an illusion, while only Fang Ming and the huge tortoise were real.
After a long moment, Ba Gui asked: "How do you know this?"
Fang Ming smiled faintly. "Because I know the future."
Ba Gui's gaze became sharper.
It was a land spirit, not a human. It did not scheme like a human, but it was not stupid. Fang Ming knew too much. A stranger who had just entered the inheritance should not know its name, the blessed land's origin, or the old master's final wish.
"Who are you?" Ba Gui asked.
Fang Ming released another thread of Spring Autumn Tag-Along Gu's aura.
This time, the aura was slightly clearer.
Ba Gui's pupils shrank.
"Immortal Gu aura…"
Fang Ming did not explain.
Letting others misunderstand was often more useful than lying directly.
He said plainly: "I am the inheritor of another blessed land. The Gu in my aperture was part of that inheritance's test. I refined it as a mortal, and survived."
Ba Gui stared at him.
A mortal with Immortal Gu aura.
A mortal who knew its name.
A mortal who knew Second Aperture Gu.
If this were a human Gu Master, he would suspect deeper schemes. But Ba Gui's obsession was simple and stubborn. It only wanted Second Aperture Gu to be refined before the blessed land collapsed.
Fang Ming pointed in a certain direction.
"The fated person you are waiting for will appear soon."
Ba Gui's dragon whiskers moved slightly. "The fated person?"
"A strength path Gu Master. He has beast phantoms. He will be heavily injured and brought to the edge of death. When that moment comes, you will sense him."
Fang Ming's tone was certain.
"He is the one who can refine Second Aperture Gu."
Ba Gui did not immediately believe him. "You meet many of the conditions."
"I do."
"Then why are you not the fated person?"
Fang Ming laughed softly.
"Because I am not here to take this blessed land."
Ba Gui's gaze remained fixed on him.
Fang Ming's expression was calm.
Second Aperture Gu was priceless. Any mortal Gu Master would go mad for it. With a second aperture, a person's primeval essence capacity would double, their recovery would improve, and they could support another Gu set.
For ordinary people, this was a heaven-defying opportunity.
But Fang Ming was not ordinary.
He knew Fang Yuan's path.
He knew the chaos Fang Yuan would cause.
He knew that at this stage, Fang Yuan still had the momentum of Heaven's Will behind him. Fang Yuan was a blade prepared to cut into Spectral Soul Demon Venerable's arrangement.
If Fang Ming seized this blessed land and disrupted the line too heavily, he might gain Second Aperture Gu, but lose something greater.
Fixed Immortal Travel.
Compared with that future opportunity, Second Aperture Gu was not enough to make him change his entire plan.
Fang Ming said: "The fated one's success is more useful to me than replacing him."
Ba Gui could not fully understand this answer.
But it understood one thing.
Fang Ming was not asking to become its master.
Fang Ming continued: "I am here to help him refine Second Aperture Gu. I have experience refining an Immortal Gu as a mortal. With me assisting, his chance will be higher."
Ba Gui's eyes brightened.
To it, these words were more important than Fang Ming's identity.
The blessed land was collapsing. Immortal essence was almost exhausted. It had waited too long and had almost no strength left to continue waiting.
If the fated one came, and another person with Immortal Gu refinement experience assisted, then the old master's wish would have a greater chance of completion.
Ba Gui asked: "Why should I trust you?"
Fang Ming answered: "You do not need to trust me. You only need to watch. The fated person will appear soon. He will be strengthened by the inheritance, then heavily injured. When he reaches death's door, you will know my words are true."
Ba Gui fell silent.
Fang Ming added: "There is one matter."
"Speak."
"Do not disclose my Gu or my origin to him. Tell him only that I am here to assist the refinement, not compete for the blessed land."
Ba Gui looked at him for a while before nodding.
"Your secret has nothing to do with the old master's wish."
Fang Ming nodded.
That was enough.
A moment later, Ba Gui suddenly raised its head.
Its old eyes pierced through the inheritance space.
"He appeared."
Fang Ming's gaze moved.
Ba Gui's voice carried surprise. "A strength path Gu Master… beast phantoms… heavily injured… close to death…"
Fang Ming smiled.
"Go."
The huge tortoise vanished.
At the same time, inside King Bao Inheritance, Fang Yuan was surrounded by red eggmen.
These short variant humans attacked him continuously. Their voices were sharp and excited.
"This devil is not moving!"
"Kill him quickly!"
"Do not be careless, devils are crafty!"
Fang Yuan stood in the encirclement, covered in blood.
His breathing had become weak. His body was riddled with injuries. The feeling of death crawled over him like cold insects.
Yet the corner of his lips slowly curled upward.
This moment had finally arrived.
A formless force descended.
Before the red eggmen could finish him off, Fang Yuan disappeared from where he stood.
The red eggmen froze, staring at the empty ground.
When Fang Yuan woke, coldness pressed against his back.
He opened his eyes.
Above him was a dark blue hall built from large bronze blocks. Moss covered many parts of the walls, showing the passage of time. The hall was plain, ancient, and silent.
His injuries had healed.
Fang Yuan sat up slowly.
Then his gaze stopped.
In front of him was a huge tortoise.
Beside the tortoise stood Fang Ming.
Fang Yuan's eyes narrowed.
This was not in his plan.
He had expected the land spirit.
He had expected the bronze hall.
He had expected the chance to refine Second Aperture Gu.
But Fang Ming standing here was completely outside his expectation.
Fang Ming looked at him and smiled faintly. "You woke up faster than I expected."
Fang Yuan did not respond to him.
His gaze moved to Ba Gui.
"You healed me?"
Ba Gui opened its wrinkled eyes. "Yes."
Fang Yuan stood up and touched his body. His injuries had indeed disappeared. Then he looked around the hall before finally looking at Fang Ming again.
"Why is he here?"
His voice was calm, but killing intent hid beneath it.
Fang Ming's presence meant uncertainty.
In a normal situation, uncertainty could be tolerated. But this was the hidden core of the Three Kings blessed land. This place concerned Second Aperture Gu, the land spirit, and Fang Yuan's future plans.
Any unexpected variable here was dangerous.
Ba Gui answered: "He is here to assist the refinement."
Fang Yuan's eyes became deeper. "Assist?"
"He is not your competitor." Ba Gui said. "He will not fight you for ownership of the blessed land."
Fang Yuan laughed lightly. "And I should believe that?"
Fang Ming answered instead of Ba Gui: "You do not need to believe it. Our oath still exists. Before the Three Kings Inheritance ends, I cannot scheme against you or attack you. Assisting you refine Second Aperture Gu does not violate the oath."
Fang Yuan looked at him coldly.
"You know about Second Aperture Gu."
"I know many things."
"How?"
Fang Ming's smile did not change. "Everyone has secrets."
The hall fell silent.
Fang Yuan stared at Fang Ming.
Fang Ming did not avoid his gaze.
The two looked at each other. One had rebirth as his greatest secret. The other had the copy system and knowledge of Fang Yuan's future path.
Neither trusted the other.
But both understood benefit.
After a few breaths, Fang Yuan withdrew his gaze.
There was no point asking further now.
Fang Ming would not say it. Ba Gui would not explain it. More importantly, time was limited.
The blessed land was collapsing.
Second Aperture Gu had to be refined before everything ended.
Fang Yuan turned toward Ba Gui. His expression returned to calm.
"You are the land spirit Ba Gui."
Ba Gui's eyes moved. "You know me too?"
Fang Yuan clasped his hands behind his back and walked slowly through the hall.
"This blessed land originated from an ancient strength path Gu Immortal. His dying wish merged with the heavenly power of the blessed land and formed you. As long as I complete his wish, I can become the new owner of this blessed land."
Ba Gui nodded. "Correct."
Fang Yuan continued: "And his dying wish was to refine Second Aperture Gu."
Ba Gui's gaze brightened.
Even Fang Ming watched quietly.
Although Fang Ming knew the general plot, Fang Yuan's confidence still carried weight. This was not blind arrogance. It came from five hundred years of experience, countless struggles, and a demonic nature that dared to gamble everything.
Ba Gui asked: "Can you refine it?"
Fang Yuan did not answer immediately.
Instead, he asked the most important question.
"Second Aperture Gu is a Rank six Immortal Gu. To refine an Immortal Gu, the most basic condition is immortal essence. How much immortal essence is left in this blessed land?"
Ba Gui turned its body.
The bronze floor cracked open.
A bronze cauldron slowly rose from beneath the hall.
It had three legs and two handles. Inside was a thin layer of greenish liquid, clear like jade water but giving off a faint rusty smell.
Immortal essence.
But there was very little left.
Only a thin layer remained at the bottom of the cauldron, and even that was decreasing drop by drop.
Fang Yuan walked to the cauldron and looked inside.
Fang Ming also glanced at it.
The immortal essence was almost exhausted.
This was the true foundation of the blessed land. Without it, Ba Gui could not act. Without it, Second Aperture Gu could not be refined. Without it, all plans would become empty words.
Fang Yuan's eyes flickered.
"This is less than ideal."
Ba Gui's dragon whiskers trembled. "Can it still be done?"
Fang Yuan looked at the cauldron for a long time.
Then he smiled.
"Yes."
Ba Gui's eyes opened wider.
Fang Yuan continued: "The immortal essence is low, but it is still enough if used carefully. The original master already prepared the foundation. You can assist. I know the recipe. I also have experience with high-level refinement."
His gaze briefly swept across Fang Ming.
"And now there is another assistant."
Fang Ming said plainly: "I will assist with stability, timing, and emergency correction. The refinement remains yours."
Fang Yuan looked at him. "You are very generous."
"I am never generous."
"That sounds more believable."
Ba Gui looked between them.
It could sense that these two did not trust each other. Their relationship was not friendship, nor true alliance. It was closer to two blades placed in the same sheath, restrained only because drawing them now would damage both.
But Ba Gui did not care.
As long as Second Aperture Gu was refined, everything else was unimportant.
Fang Yuan placed his hands behind his back again.
"In my estimation, the chance of success is around fifty percent."
Ba Gui was startled. "Only fifty?"
Fang Yuan glanced at it. "This is an Immortal Gu refinement. Fifty percent is already extremely high."
Fang Ming nodded. "For a mortal refining Immortal Gu, fifty percent is enough to gamble life and death."
Ba Gui slowly lowered its head.
It had waited for too long.
The blessed land had shrunk to less than one percent of its original size. Calamities and tribulations had torn countless holes in it. The three kings had remodeled it, countless Gu Masters had plundered it, and now it was near collapse.
If it missed this chance, there would be no next time.
Ba Gui looked at Fang Yuan.
Then at Fang Ming.
Finally, it said: "Then begin."
Fang Yuan's smile widened.
Fang Ming stood to the side, calm and silent.
Second Aperture Gu was not his goal.
But Fang Yuan had to succeed.
Only if Fang Yuan continued forward would the greater storm arrive.
Only if the greater storm arrived would Fixed Immortal Travel bloom in Fang Ming's reach.
The bronze hall was ancient and quiet.
Outside, countless Gu Masters still fought for the Three Kings Inheritance, unaware that the true inheritance had already opened.
Inside the hall, the land spirit, the reborn demon, and the counterfeit inheritor stood before the last immortal essence of the blessed land.
The sinking ship had reached its final voyage.
And Fang Ming had already stepped onto its hidden deck.