The trade was complete.
Lang Ya land spirit held Sub-Second Immortal Aperture Gu like an old collector holding a rare treasure. His eyes shone as he studied the pale silver Gu, sometimes frowning, sometimes laughing softly to himself.
Fang Ming stood opposite him calmly.
He had already used the true Second Aperture Immortal Gu.
Inside his body, two apertures now existed.
His original aperture was still rank five peak stage, deep and powerful. His second aperture had only just opened, empty, clean, and weak, but its foundation was excellent.
A-grade aptitude.
That was enough.
Lang Ya land spirit finally pulled his gaze away from the pale silver Gu.
"Three thousand immortal essence stones worth of credit. I remember."
Fang Ming nodded. "Then I will trouble senior to act as my middleman."
Lang Ya stroked his beard. "You want to buy things from treasure yellow heaven?"
"Yes."
"You are only a mortal. Without connecting heaven Gu and divine sense Gu, you cannot trade there yourself."
"That is why I need you."
Lang Ya smiled. "Good. Tell me what you want."
Fang Ming had already prepared the list.
First was a complete rank five strength path set for his original aperture.
He did not want one or two random Gu worms. He wanted a system.
One permanent strength enhancement Gu.
Three strength attack Gu: one for close combat, one for ranged attacks, and one high-consumption burst attack.
Two strength defense Gu.
Two movement and support Gu.
Two recovery and support Gu.
Several spare support Gu to handle different situations.
Lang Ya listened and nodded from time to time.
"Twenty-eight immortal essence stones."
Fang Ming accepted.
Strength path was his foundation.
He had walked this path for a long time, and he knew the future also contained many strength path opportunities. Fang Yuan would have strength path gains. Hei Lou Lan would have even greater ones. There were things ahead that Fang Ming intended to copy, borrow, or seize.
Strength path would remain his personal combat power.
But it would no longer be the face he showed first.
Next, Fang Ming requested an enslavement path set.
Lang Ya land spirit's brows rose. "Enslavement path?"
"Yes. Eagle groups."
"Eagles?" Lang Ya rubbed his beard. "Northern Plains has many wolf enslavement Gu Masters. You want eagles instead?"
"Wolves are too common. Eagles give scouting, pursuit, air control, and independent movement. I do not need a huge army. I need an elite one."
Lang Ya nodded slowly. "Not bad. Continue."
This set was prepared for his second aperture.
One rank five eagle enslavement core Gu.
Two large-scale command Gu.
Two formation and control Gu.
Two eagle-vision scouting Gu.
Two support Gu for feeding, healing, and stabilizing beast groups.
One emergency recall Gu.
And the eagle group itself.
Fang Ming did not buy an overwhelming army.
He could afford one, but he did not want one.
A rank five enslavement path Gu Master with a huge army could not remain unknown. The coming Northern Plains war would be watched by Gu Immortals. Fang Ming did not want to stand out too much before he had enough strength.
So his group would be small but elite.
Three rank five crown eagles.
Around a dozen rank four wind chaser eagles.
About a hundred mixed rank one, rank two, and rank three eagles.
No mutated eagles.
Mutated beasts were stronger, but they attracted attention. Fang Ming wanted enough strength to act alone, not enough fame to draw every eye.
Lang Ya calculated briefly.
"Thirty-four immortal essence stones."
Fang Ming nodded.
Enslavement path had two purposes.
The first was near.
Northern Plains would soon enter war. After that came Eighty-Eight True Yang Building.
If he explored in a group, spoils had to be divided. If an Immortal Gu appeared, it might not belong to him. But enslavement path Gu Masters were different.
A true enslavement path Gu Master was a one-man army.
With eagle groups, Fang Ming could scout, fight, probe, and explore without needing to rely on others.
What he found would be his.
The second purpose was far.
Counterfeit Copy would give him many Immortal Gu in the future, but not every Immortal Gu would be excellent. Some would be weak. Some would be flawed. Some might be difficult to use personally.
Selling them was not always the best choice.
But beasts were different.
A strong beast with even a weak Immortal Gu could become terrifying.
Normal enslavement path relied on powerful beast groups.
Fang Ming's future enslavement path could become something else.
Powerful beasts armed with Immortal Gu.
Even if most of those Gu were inferior, the combination would still be dangerous.
That was why he chose enslavement path.
After this, he added one strong rank five short-burst flying Gu.
It was not meant for long-distance travel. It was for sudden vertical movement, emergency dodging, aerial repositioning, and escaping situations where ordinary movement Gu would be restricted.
"Eight immortal essence stones," Lang Ya said.
"Add it."
After that, Fang Ming requested something more unusual.
"A mortal-level disguise inheritance fragment related to Thieving Heaven."
Lang Ya's brows rose. "You want disguise methods?"
"Yes."
"You already claim to be Thieving Heaven's successor, and now you want to buy his disguise inheritance from me?"
Fang Ming replied calmly, "A successor can still lack pieces of the inheritance."
Lang Ya looked at him for a while, then laughed.
"That is true."
This inheritance fragment included disguise Gu, supporting Gu, a mortal killer move, usage knowledge, and maintenance methods.
It was not enough to deceive Gu Immortals.
But in the mortal realm, it was excellent.
Ordinary mortal Gu Masters would not be able to see through it easily.
"One hundred immortal essence stones," Lang Ya said.
Fang Ming accepted without hesitation.
Then came five beads of immortal essence.
Teleport Gu required immortal essence to activate. The first time, Ba Gui had used his remaining immortal essence to send Fang Ming away. Fang Ming could not rely on such luck again.
Lang Ya sealed five beads of immortal essence inside a special storage Gu and placed it into Fang Ming's aperture.
"These are for emergency use only," Lang Ya warned. "You are still a mortal. Handle them carelessly, and you will suffer."
"I understand."
"Five immortal essence stones."
"Accepted."
Then Fang Ming bought knowledge.
One clear guide on immortal ascension.
It covered the balance of heaven qi, earth qi, and human qi, the common danger points, preparation methods, and mistakes made by mortal Gu Masters when attempting to become immortals.
One immortal essence stone.
He also bought a biography and case record of immortal ascensions involving the ten extreme physiques.
Another immortal essence stone.
Lang Ya was curious. "Why do you want this?"
"Reference."
"Reference for what?"
"Future possibilities."
Lang Ya did not press further.
Finally, Fang Ming bought relic Gu, Gu food, cultivation resources, eagle-raising resources, spare Gu, and emergency consumables.
This was the most practical part.
The second aperture had to be cultivated from rank one initial stage all the way to rank five peak stage. Even with A-grade aptitude, this still required time, relic Gu, and proper resources.
The eagles also needed feeding, training, and storage arrangements.
Lang Ya estimated the total.
"Twenty-one immortal essence stones."
Fang Ming agreed.
Altogether, Fang Ming spent one hundred and ninety-eight immortal essence stones.
From the original three thousand, he still had two thousand eight hundred and two immortal essence stones worth of credit remaining with Lang Ya.
Lang Ya land spirit stroked his beard. "You spend carefully."
Fang Ming replied, "Resources should turn into strength. But not all at once."
"Good answer."
Lang Ya waved his sleeve, and the purchased Gu worms, materials, and resources were gathered and arranged before Fang Ming.
The strength path Gu entered his original aperture.
The enslavement path Gu entered his second aperture.
The eagle group was placed into beast storage arrangements prepared by Lang Ya.
The disguise inheritance was stored separately.
The immortal ascension records were kept carefully.
The five immortal essence beads were sealed away.
The path ahead became clearer.
But there was still one problem.
Five years was not a short time.
Lang Ya land spirit would not allow him to stay for no reason.
Fang Ming looked at Lang Ya.
"Senior, I want to stay in Lang Ya blessed land for several years."
Lang Ya immediately frowned. "Several years? You think this place is an inn?"
"I will pay rent."
"I do not lack immortal essence stones."
"I will lend you Teleport Gu for study."
Lang Ya land spirit's eyes brightened instantly.
The purple butterfly.
An unknown Immortal Gu.
A teleportation Gu similar in function to Fixed Immortal Travel, yet clearly not the same.
Ever since Fang Ming had shown it, Lang Ya had wanted to examine it properly. But Fang Ming had always refused.
Now, he was offering.
Lang Ya coughed lightly and tried to look dignified.
"Hmph. You finally understand the value of respecting seniors."
Fang Ming continued, "During my stay, senior can study Teleport Gu. In exchange, I want to borrow a Gu from you."
"What Gu?"
"A strength path consumable Gu that can permanently add strength dao marks to the body."
Lang Ya's eyes narrowed. "You know about that?"
"I heard of similar methods. I want to study it."
"This Gu is precious."
"I will not consume the original."
Lang Ya stared at him for a moment.
Fang Ming's expression was calm.
Lang Ya snorted. "Fine. But if you damage Teleport Gu, do not blame me."
"If Teleport Gu is damaged, the agreement ends."
Lang Ya's beard trembled. "Stingy brat."
Thus, the exchange was set.
Lang Ya borrowed Teleport Gu for study.
Fang Ming borrowed the permanent strength dao mark Gu as reference.
Then Fang Ming began cultivating.
Lang Ya blessed land's time flow was fast.
Thirty days inside equaled one day outside.
Fang Ming spent five full years inside.
In the outside world, only around two months passed.
During these five years, he rarely wasted time.
His second aperture advanced rapidly.
Rank one.
Rank two.
Rank three.
Rank four.
Rank five.
Relic Gu and cultivation resources removed many bottlenecks, but they did not remove the need for control. Fang Ming still had to adapt to the new aperture's primeval essence, its circulation, and the feeling of maintaining two cultivation foundations at once.
At first, using two apertures felt awkward.
His original aperture carried strength path Gu.
His second aperture carried enslavement path Gu.
Strength path was direct and personal.
Enslavement path was broad and demanding.
The second aperture gradually reached rank five peak stage.
Now, both apertures stood at the peak of mortality.
One body.
Two rank five peak apertures.
Two complete Gu systems.
Fang Ming trained his eagle control daily.
At first, commanding over a hundred eagles at once strained his mind. Crown eagles were proud and fierce. Wind chaser eagles were fast but difficult to coordinate. Lower-rank eagles were easier to control, but in large numbers they required attention.
He practiced scouting formations.
Harassment patterns.
Dive attacks.
Retreat commands.
Layered pursuit.
Emergency recall.
Aerial encirclement.
He did not need an overwhelming army.
He needed an army that obeyed perfectly.
Three rank five crown eagles formed the core.
The dozen rank four wind chaser eagles formed the sharp edge.
The hundred lower-rank eagles formed the net.
Compared to famous enslavement path Gu Masters, this force was small.
But it was elite.
And more importantly, it was low-key.
During the coming Northern Plains war, Fang Ming planned to display enslavement path openly. He would command eagles, learn from other enslavement experts, and sharpen his control through war.
Strength path would remain hidden.
If assassins came for an enslavement path Gu Master, they would expect weak close combat.
Fang Ming wanted them to be wrong.
He also trained movement.
Tyrannical Dash Gu remained useful, but it was no longer his only option. The new short-burst flying Gu gave him another escape route. He practiced rising into the air suddenly, changing direction mid-burst, and combining flight with eagle coordination.
Then came strength path.
This training was quieter.
More private.
Once every month, Fang Ming used Counterfeit Copy on the permanent strength dao mark Gu.
Each copy was inferior.
Each one held only around one tenth of the original Gu's effect.
But it was still permanent.
He consumed them one after another.
One month.
One copy.
Five years.
Sixty copies.
By the end, the accumulated effect was roughly equal to consuming six complete permanent strength dao mark Gu.
Strength dao marks gathered in his body.
They did not make him a Gu Immortal.
They did not give him immortal essence.
But in terms of dao mark quantity alone, his strength path foundation had reached a level comparable to an ordinary rank six Gu Immortal.
This was rare.
But not impossible.
In the long history of the Gu world, there were always monsters who broke ordinary limits. The most famous example was Limitless Demon Venerable, who possessed rank six-level dao marks while still mortal, and after becoming rank six, had dao marks exceeding ordinary peak rank eight Gu Immortals.
Fang Ming was far from such a monster.
But he had taken a step onto that kind of abnormal road.
He also studied the immortal ascension guide.
He read about heaven qi, earth qi, and human qi until the words became familiar. He memorized common failures. He studied how mortal foundations affected the blessed land after ascension.
Then he studied the ten extreme physique ascension records.
Bai Ning Bing came to mind more than once.
Extreme physiques were powerful, but power always came with a price.
Fang Ming closed the record after finishing it.
Knowledge was also strength.
At the end of the fifth year, Fang Ming stood before Lang Ya land spirit again.
The old man looked him up and down.
"Both apertures at rank five peak stage. Not bad."
Fang Ming cupped his hands. "I troubled senior during these years."
Lang Ya snorted. "You also made me study Teleport Gu for five years and still refused to explain its origin properly."
"Senior studied enough."
"Not enough!"
Fang Ming smiled faintly.
Lang Ya glared at him, then waved his sleeve.
"Where are you going?"
"The outside access point."
Lang Ya's eyes narrowed. "The Thieving Heaven arrangement?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Fang Ming replied calmly, "To remove a problem."
Lang Ya stared at him for a moment, then laughed.
"Thieving Heaven's successor indeed."
Fang Ming did not explain further.
Teleport Gu returned to his aperture.
The five immortal essence beads remained sealed.
His eagle group was stored.
His disguise method was ready.
He activated the exit method.
When he appeared in the mortal world again, cold air touched his face.
The sky was wide.
The land was quiet.
Before him stood the hidden arrangement connected to Lang Ya blessed land's entry method.
The purple stone pillar.
The stones around it.
The path of blood and words.
A person who knew the secret could smear blood on the pillar, say "I want," and enter Lang Ya blessed land.
Fang Ming stood before it silently.
This road had value.
Too much value.
And because of that, it could not remain.
Lang Ya blessed land was a treasure.
A trading channel.
A refuge.
A future foundation.
Fang Ming did not want to share it with Fang Yuan.
He raised his hand.
Strength path Gu activated.
The first blow cracked the outer stones.
The second blow shattered the hidden arrangement.
The third blow struck the purple stone pillar.
Cracks spread across its surface like spiderwebs.
Fang Ming did not stop until the entire structure collapsed into broken fragments.
Then he used strength path force again and again, grinding the remaining traces until the activation pattern was completely ruined.
No blood.
No words.
No entrance.
Only broken stone remained.
Fang Ming looked at the ruins.
He had gained the door.
Now he had burned the road behind him.
His expression remained calm as he adjusted his disguise. His face, body shape, aura, and posture shifted under the mortal Thieving Heaven disguise method.
The Fang Ming who had appeared in Southern Border disappeared.
A different man stood in his place.
Behind him was Lang Ya blessed land.
Inside him were two rank five peak apertures.
One held enslavement path, ready to be shown to the world.
The other held strength path, waiting beneath the surface.
In reserve were five immortal essence beads.
In the future remained two thousand eight hundred and two immortal essence stones worth of credit.
And in the mortal world, Fang Yuan's future path to Lang Ya had just been cut.
Fang Ming turned and left.
The next board had begun.