Chapter 71: First Payment
A breath later, Fang Ming appeared in the broken stone forest.
The air was dry and still. Broken stone pillars stood unevenly around him, some tall and some short, like the remains of a collapsed mountain. Not far away, a Gu Master was moving carefully between the stones.
Zhang San San.
Rank four upper stage.
In the outside world, this cultivation was not enough to make Fang Ming pay much attention. On San Cha Mountain, there were many people stronger than Zhang San San. Rank four peak stage Gu Masters were not rare here, and Rank five experts had already entered the inheritance.
But Fang Ming had not chosen him because of cultivation.
He had chosen him because of what he carried.
Before Ba Gui moved him, the land spirit had questioned his choice.
"Why him?" Ba Gui had asked.
Zhang San San was not the strongest. He was not the closest to the main hall. He was not even the most obvious threat.
Fang Ming had answered plainly: "He is an enslavement path Gu Master."
Ba Gui had remained silent.
Fang Ming continued: "When the refinement reaches its final stage, your immortal essence will be nearly exhausted. You will not be able to suppress everything. At that time, the defense will rely on dog groups."
Ba Gui understood this.
Fang Yuan had already arranged for Bai Ning Bing to gather dogs later. The dog army would become the outer shield of the main hall.
Fang Ming said: "A normal Gu Master would be blocked by numbers. But an enslavement path Gu Master can test the formation, disturb the dog groups, lure them apart, and tear open a gap. If this person survives until then, he can interrupt the refinement."
This reason was enough.
Ba Gui was not Fang Ming's servant. It would not act simply because Fang Ming pointed at someone. But if the target threatened the refinement of Second Aperture Gu, then removing him matched the old master's wish.
Thus, Ba Gui moved.
And Fang Ming appeared behind Zhang San San.
Zhang San San sensed something and turned sharply.
His eyes widened.
He tried to activate his Gu.
Nothing responded.
In this blessed land, Ba Gui had closed the cage.
Zhang San San's expression changed from vigilance to horror in an instant. His mouth opened, but before he could shout, Fang Ming had already arrived before him.
There was no speech.
No battle.
No exchange of moves.
Fang Ming's palm struck his chest.
Rank five strength crashed into Zhang San San's body. His ribs broke, his heart ruptured, and his body flew back into a broken stone pillar.
The stone pillar shook.
Zhang San San slid down slowly, blood flowing from his mouth. His eyes still held disbelief.
He died without knowing why he had been chosen.
Ba Gui's force descended immediately.
The aperture was extracted and sent away, becoming nourishment for Beast Strength Placenta Gu.
Fang Ming walked to the corpse and searched quickly.
Several Gu worms were suppressed and taken out.
Most were enslavement path Gu. Their ranks were not low, but Fang Ming's attention did not stay on them.
Soon, he found the true prize.
Rank five Slavery Gu.
Fang Ming's gaze settled.
This Gu was far more valuable than Zhang San San himself.
A Rank five Slavery Gu could enslave a Rank five Gu Master. Used properly, it could turn an enemy expert into a controlled blade. Killing a Rank five only gave loot. Enslaving one gave strength, identity, connections, and future use.
Fang Ming stored it without hesitation.
He did not activate it.
He did not even inspect it for long.
This Gu was not for today.
Ba Gui's voice sounded beside him. "The aperture has been collected."
Fang Ming nodded. "Next."
The map appeared faintly before him.
Fang Ming did not immediately return to the hall.
Zhang San San was his real target, but that could not be too obvious. Fang Yuan had Spring Autumn Cicada. If this timeline collapsed and Fang Yuan returned to the past, Fang Ming could not allow him to remember that Zhang San San had been selected first with unusual precision.
He needed noise.
He needed other deaths around this choice.
Fang Ming pointed at another Rank four Gu Master.
"This one."
Ba Gui looked at the target. "He is not enslavement path."
"He is close to one of the damaged areas. If he wanders further, he may find something troublesome."
The explanation was acceptable.
Space shifted again.
Fang Ming appeared, killed, collected, and left.
The second Gu Master died even faster than Zhang San San. Under Ba Gui's suppression, he could not even release his defensive Gu.
The aperture was taken.
The useful Gu became Fang Ming's payment.
After that, Fang Ming chose one more Rank four Gu Master, a lone cultivator who had advanced deeper than expected. This person had good luck and decent methods, but luck meant nothing when the land spirit itself moved against him.
Three targets died.
Three apertures entered Beast Strength Placenta Gu.
Several Gu worms entered Fang Ming's possession.
Only then did Fang Ming stop.
More killing would indeed feed the refinement faster, but it would also expose too much. Fang Yuan would wake soon. If too many targets disappeared while he slept, his suspicion would increase.
Fang Ming returned to the bronze hall.
Fang Yuan was still asleep.
Beast Strength Placenta Gu floated quietly, its rough surface already brighter than before. It had absorbed several apertures and was gradually transforming from an unfinished embryo into a true foundation for Second Aperture Gu.
Ba Gui looked at Fang Ming.
"You stopped."
Fang Ming replied: "Enough for now. If I continue, Fang Yuan will not sleep peacefully next time."
Ba Gui did not understand the human calculation behind those words, but it understood that the refinement had benefited.
Fang Ming sat down near the edge of the hall.
His expression was calm.
Rank five Slavery Gu was hidden away.
He had gained what he wanted.
Not long later, Fang Yuan opened his eyes.
His gaze was clear the moment he woke.
He sat up and looked first at Beast Strength Placenta Gu. Then he looked at Ba Gui. Finally, his gaze landed on Fang Ming.
"Apertures were collected."
Fang Ming nodded. "You were sleeping. The blessed land was not."
Fang Yuan stood up slowly.
He did not ask useless questions.
Fang Ming had taken payment. That was already agreed. Since Beast Strength Placenta Gu had grown, Fang Ming had not harmed the refinement.
But Fang Yuan would not let him continue freely.
"From now on, I choose the targets."
Fang Ming smiled faintly. "As you wish."
This was also expected.
Fang Yuan turned to Ba Gui. "Show me the map."
The blessed land map appeared.
Scenes shifted continuously. Dog groups fought. Hairy men refined Gu. Gu Masters struggled through inheritance rounds. Some moved carefully, some fought desperately, and some hid to recover.
Fang Yuan's gaze swept across the map and soon stopped.
Tie Mu Bai.
The old Tie clan leader was inside King Xin Inheritance. His expression was steady, and his steps were unhurried. Even inside the inheritance, he carried the bearing of a righteous path pillar.
Fang Ming also looked at him.
This man had once fought him to a draw on San Cha Mountain. Tie Mu Bai's experience, Gu set, and judgment were all top-tier among mortals. If he discovered the main hall later, he would become a serious problem.
But Fang Ming had already agreed.
Tie Mu Bai belonged to Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan said: "Him."
Ba Gui nodded.
Space shifted.
Fang Yuan vanished from the bronze hall.
Inside King Xin Inheritance, Tie Mu Bai had just passed another stage. Before him, the scene was changing, preparing the next trial.
Suddenly, space tore open.
Fang Yuan appeared.
Tie Mu Bai's eyes narrowed.
"You—"
He did not finish.
At this moment, Ba Gui suppressed the space around him. Tie Mu Bai's Gu worms became silent. His methods, experience, and battle strength were all locked behind an invisible wall.
Fang Yuan waved his hand.
A rock crocodile phantom struck.
Bang!
Tie Mu Bai's head burst apart like a crushed fruit.
His body fell.
The former Tie clan leader, the righteous path glory of Southern Border, the strongest Rank five expert on San Cha Mountain, died without even completing a sentence.
His lifetime of battle achievements, his clan reputation, his experience and schemes — all of it ended under one sudden strike.
This was not a fair battle.
But the Gu world had never promised fairness.
Fang Yuan collected Tie Mu Bai's Gu and fed his aperture to Beast Strength Placenta Gu.
A moment later, he returned to the bronze hall.
Fang Ming glanced at him.
Tie Mu Bai's death was silent, but its meaning was enormous.
The strongest righteous path pillar on San Cha Mountain had fallen. Once this news spread, the entire mountain's balance would collapse.
Fang Ming had fought Tie Mu Bai to gain recognition.
Fang Yuan had used opportunity to erase him.
Both methods were useful.
Fang Yuan checked Beast Strength Placenta Gu again. Its aura had grown stronger after absorbing Tie Mu Bai's aperture.
But his expression did not relax.
The closer the refinement moved toward completion, the more dangerous it became. Ba Gui's immortal essence was decreasing. The blessed land's suppression would weaken. At the final stage, Fang Yuan would need to focus completely on the refinement. At that time, he would be vulnerable.
Fang Ming stood nearby, useful but not trustworthy.
Fang Yuan would not place his life solely in Fang Ming's hands.
He looked at Ba Gui. "Send me to Bai Ning Bing."
Ba Gui acted.
Fang Yuan vanished.
Bai Ning Bing was inside an inheritance space when Fang Yuan appeared before her.
Her blue eyes widened slightly.
By now, she had a deep understanding of the Three Kings Inheritance. Fang Yuan's sudden arrival did not look like ordinary movement. It meant he had touched a deeper authority within the blessed land.
"Fang Yuan," she said coldly, "you appear quite freely now."
Fang Yuan stood with his hands behind his back.
"Do you remember our vow?"
Bai Ning Bing's gaze sharpened. "You want my help."
"Soon, I will be in mortal danger. According to the poison vow, you must help me."
Bai Ning Bing snorted. "Still as shameless as ever."
Fang Yuan was unmoved. "This is cooperation."
"Speak clearly."
Fang Yuan did not hide the core matter.
"The land spirit of this blessed land is still alive. I am refining an Immortal Gu, Second Aperture Gu. Tie Mu Bai is dead. The final stage will be dangerous, and I need protection."
Bai Ning Bing's pupils shrank.
Even with her temperament, she was shaken.
Land spirit.
Immortal Gu.
Second Aperture Gu.
Tie Mu Bai dead.
Each piece of information was heavy. Together, they were enough to overturn her understanding of the situation.
Then Fang Yuan added: "Fang Ming is also involved."
Bai Ning Bing's expression changed again.
"Fang Ming?"
"He is assisting the refinement."
Bai Ning Bing's eyes became colder.
Fang Yuan gaining the blessed land's hidden authority was already shocking. Fang Ming also being involved meant the situation was even more complicated than she expected.
Fang Ming had hidden things from the beginning.
Now he had actually inserted himself into the core of an Immortal Gu refinement.
Bai Ning Bing felt disgust and wariness rise together.
Fang Yuan was dangerous because he controlled people through vows, benefits, and schemes.
Fang Ming was dangerous because he always seemed to stand near the greatest profit before others even saw it.
Neither of them was trustworthy.
Fang Yuan took out a dog enslavement Gu.
"You will enter King Quan Inheritance. Gather dog beasts. The more, the better. Later, form a defensive line around the main hall."
Bai Ning Bing looked at the Gu, then at Fang Yuan.
"And Yang Gu?"
"If I succeed, I will give it to you."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"You do not need to believe it. You only need to understand that if I die during refinement, the poison vow will drag you with me."
Bai Ning Bing's face turned cold.
"Shameless."
Fang Yuan smiled. "You have said that already."
She took the dog enslavement Gu.
The next moment, Ba Gui moved her.
The scene before Bai Ning Bing changed, and she was sent into King Quan Inheritance.
Fang Yuan returned to the bronze hall.
Ba Gui waited silently.
Fang Ming stood near the edge of the hall, his expression calm, as if everything had proceeded naturally.
Fang Yuan looked at him briefly, then withdrew his gaze.
There was no time to waste.
Tie Mu Bai was dead.
Bai Ning Bing had entered King Quan.
The apertures had begun to gather.
Second Aperture Gu's refinement was moving toward its most dangerous stage.
And in Fang Ming's possession, hidden from Fang Yuan's sight, Rank five Slavery Gu slept quietly like a blade waiting for its sheath to open.