Snow fell silently outside the window.
Inside the quiet room, the fragrance of tea spread slowly. Fairy Li Shan sat beside the vermillion window frame, her hands moving with practiced calm as she brewed snow oil tea. Her expression was gentle, but the room itself was not casual.
There were five tea cups on the table.
Fairy Li Shan lowered her gaze and watched the steam rise from the tea. Snowy Mountain blessed land was never truly peaceful, but her branch peak had always been quiet. Quietness was useful. It made guests speak more carefully.
A jade-green light suddenly appeared in the room.
The light faded, revealing Tai Bai Yun Sheng.
The old man's eyes swept across the room first. Only after confirming there was no obvious danger did he bow toward Fairy Li Shan. "Junior greets senior Fairy Li Shan."
Fairy Li Shan smiled. "Tai Bai Yun Sheng, there is no need to be so reserved. Since Little Lan brought you here, you are a guest."
Tai Bai Yun Sheng did not immediately relax. This place was unfamiliar, and Fairy Li Shan's reputation was not light. A Rank 7 Gu Immortal who could stand in Northern Plains' demonic path was not someone an ordinary newly ascended immortal could treat casually.
He opened his immortal aperture, and two figures stepped out.
Hei Lou Lan appeared first. Her expression was still cold, but when she looked at Fairy Li Shan, there was a trace of warmth that could not be hidden.
"Little aunt," she said.
Fairy Li Shan's gaze softened. "You came."
The second figure was much taller. Eight monstrous arms, immortal zombie body, fierce aura restrained but not concealed. It was Fang Yuan.
Fairy Li Shan looked at him with interest. "Gu Yue Fang Yuan. Little Lan has mentioned you many times."
Fang Yuan laughed hoarsely. "Fairy overpraises me. I merely survived by luck."
His words were modest, but no one in the room believed them.
A person who had survived the collapse of Eighty-Eight True Yang Building, escaped Northern Plains' search, and still had the courage to sit here could not be explained by luck alone.
Tai Bai Yun Sheng looked at the room again and then at the five tea cups on the table.
Five.
He was about to ask when the air near the side of the room changed.
A faint purple smoke appeared.
It did not flash like Fixed Immortal Travel. It did not tear space violently. The smoke gathered slowly, twisting into the outline of a human figure. For two breaths, only the shape existed. Then the form became solid.
Fang Ming appeared.
His expression was calm, his aura restrained at Rank 6 level. His body carried the bearing of strength path, but his face and aura had no trace of the old Fang Ming. His physique, bones, muscles, eyes, and entire presence had changed completely after obtaining the Great Strength True Martial Physique.
To the people here, he was only the transformed strength path Gu Immortal who had appeared during the chaos of Imperial Court blessed land.
Fang Yuan's gaze immediately shifted to him.
He did not recognize Fang Ming's old identity.
But he recognized this current identity.
This was the strength path Gu Immortal who had protected Ma Hong Yun for luck, then withdrew once the danger grew. He had clashed with Fang Yuan, Hei Lou Lan, and Tai Bai Yun Sheng during the struggle around Ma Hong Yun. Later, during the chaos of Eighty-Eight True Yang Building, he had also undergone immortal ascension.
And now, this person had lent Hei Lou Lan an Immortal Gu for her own ascension.
Fang Yuan's thoughts moved quickly.
A Rank 6 Gu Immortal who dared to ascend in that chaos, who had a strange teleportation method, and who was willing to lend an Immortal Gu to Hei Lou Lan could not be simple.
Fang Ming also looked at Fang Yuan.
His gaze paused only briefly before moving away.
He knew Fang Yuan far better than Fang Yuan knew him. But knowing too much was also dangerous. The more he revealed, the more Fang Yuan would notice.
Fairy Li Shan smiled and gestured toward the final seat. "Friend Feng, you arrived exactly on time."
Fang Ming nodded slightly. "Fairy Li Shan."
Tai Bai Yun Sheng looked at Fang Ming, then at the fading traces of purple smoke. "That movement method…"
Fang Ming did not explain.
Hei Lou Lan also did not ask. She had already heard Fang Ming refuse to use Fixed Immortal Travel. Seeing him arrive through his own method only confirmed that he had not spoken empty words.
Fairy Li Shan's gaze swept across the room.
"Everyone is here."
The five cups of tea sat untouched.
Fairy Li Shan continued, "My relationship with Little Lan has always been hidden. Outsiders do not even know that we are connected. Today, she has exposed this relationship to all of you. This is enough to show her sincerity."
Fang Yuan smiled faintly. "Indeed. I did not expect Hei Lou Lan to have such support."
Tai Bai Yun Sheng's expression changed slightly. "This place… is Snowy Mountain blessed land?"
Fairy Li Shan smiled. "Correct."
Tai Bai Yun Sheng took in a breath. "Snowy Mountain blessed land, the gathering place of Northern Plains' demonic path Gu Immortals…"
Hei Lou Lan gave him a glance. "Where else did you think my little aunt lived?"
Fang Yuan said lightly, "Old Bai, Fairy Li Shan is the owner of the third branch peak of Snowy Mountain blessed land. You may also call her the third leader."
Tai Bai Yun Sheng stared at Fairy Li Shan in shock.
This refined and gentle-looking woman was actually the third leader of Northern Plains' largest demonic path stronghold.
Fang Ming remained silent.
He already knew this, but he did not show it. In this room, knowing too much without a source was more dangerous than ignorance.
Fairy Li Shan extended her hand toward the table. "The tea has just been brewed. Everyone, please sit."
Fang Yuan did not move toward the cup. "There is no need to rush. Since we gathered here to establish an alliance, let us make the oath first. It will not be too late to drink tea afterward."
Fairy Li Shan looked at him and smiled. "Virtuous junior Fang is decisive."
Fang Ming glanced at Fang Yuan calmly.
This was Fang Yuan's style. Before the oath was made, all warmth was meaningless. Tea, smiles, and polite words were only decoration. Mountain Pledge Gu was the real foundation of this meeting.
Fairy Li Shan raised her hand.
An Immortal Gu appeared.
It resembled a stone beetle, thick and solid, larger than an adult's palm. Its body was ash gray, with a rough mountain-like texture across its back. Its pincers were large, and faint moss-like markings appeared around the joints of its legs.
"This is Mountain Pledge Immortal Gu," Fairy Li Shan said. "As long as a mountain is chosen and the mountain remains, the oath cannot be violated."
Tai Bai Yun Sheng's eyes widened.
Fang Yuan looked outside the window. Snow continued to fall silently over Snowy Mountain.
"What other mountain could be more suitable than this one?" he said.
Fairy Li Shan nodded. "Then Snowy Mountain shall witness the oath."
The room quieted.
This quietness was different from before.
Earlier, it was the quietness of tea and snow. Now, it was the quietness before binding words.
Fang Yuan spoke first. His terms were sharp and practical: secrecy, no betrayal, no deliberate harm, no revealing each other's methods and identities to outsiders. Tai Bai Yun Sheng added little, only agreeing with Fang Yuan's side.
Hei Lou Lan's focus was clear. She wanted cooperation against Hei Cheng, support for her immortal ascension, and protection against betrayal during the process.
Fairy Li Shan refined the wording, removing vague parts and turning them into precise oath clauses.
Then everyone looked at Fang Ming.
He had not spoken much since entering.
Fairy Li Shan smiled gently. "Friend Feng, you have supported Little Lan greatly. You lent her Steel Body Strength Immortal Gu for ascension. May I ask why?"
The question was polite.
But the room paid attention.
Fang Ming looked at Hei Lou Lan, then answered plainly, "She and I both have Great Strength True Martial Physique. I have just experienced ten extreme physique immortal ascension myself. I understand the danger."
He paused briefly.
"More importantly, I understand the value of success. A Gu Immortal who ascends with Great Strength True Martial Physique will not be ordinary. Lending Steel Body Strength Gu is an investment. If Hei Lou Lan succeeds, I gain a strong future ally."
Fairy Li Shan's smile deepened slightly.
This answer was direct, practical, and believable.
No false righteousness.
No emotional pretense.
Fang Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly.
Investment.
This word matched what he had judged. This strength path Gu Immortal was not helping Hei Lou Lan from kindness. He was betting on her future value.
That made sense.
But it also made him more dangerous.
Fang Ming continued, "My conditions are simple. Steel Body Strength Immortal Gu must be returned after Hei Lou Lan's ascension if it survives. If it is destroyed during ascension, it is treated as ascension risk, not betrayal. But no one present may intentionally scheme to damage, seize, or conceal it."
Hei Lou Lan looked at him. "Agreed."
Fairy Li Shan nodded. "This is reasonable."
Fang Yuan did not object.
Fang Ming added, "Also, my movement method, my cultivation arrangements, and my private business have no relation to this alliance unless I choose to reveal them. I will not inquire into everyone's secrets beyond the alliance terms, and I expect the same."
Fang Yuan smiled. "Friend Feng is cautious."
"Caution is cheaper than regret," Fang Ming replied.
Tai Bai Yun Sheng laughed dryly, trying to soften the atmosphere, but no one truly relaxed.
The oath terms gradually formed.
They would not betray one another.
They would not reveal each other's hidden relationships, identities, methods, or alliance details to outsiders.
They would not deliberately harm each other through schemes, ambushes, false information, or borrowed hands.
They would cooperate around Hei Lou Lan's immortal ascension.
They would assist against Hei Cheng within agreed limits, but there was no unconditional obligation to throw away their lives.
Steel Body Strength Gu would be returned if it survived the ascension. If it was destroyed by the natural danger of ascension, Fang Ming would not treat it as betrayal.
No one would use the alliance to force another member to expose unrelated secrets.
The wording was not heroic.
It did not speak of brotherhood.
It did not promise eternal loyalty.
But that was precisely why it was useful.
Mountain Pledge Gu rose into the air. A faint gray light spread outward, merging with the room, the branch peak, and the vast Snowy Mountain blessed land beneath them.
One by one, the five spoke the oath.
Fang Yuan's hoarse voice was first.
Tai Bai Yun Sheng followed.
Hei Lou Lan's tone was cold and steady.
Fairy Li Shan's voice was gentle.
Fang Ming spoke last, calm and clear.
When the final word fell, the gray light condensed into faint mountain-shaped marks, then disappeared into each person's body.
The oath was established.
Snow continued falling outside.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then Fairy Li Shan smiled and poured tea into the cups.
"Now, we can drink."
This time, Fang Yuan did not refuse.
The five sat around the table. Steam rose between them, softening the tense air slightly.
Tai Bai Yun Sheng lifted his tea cup and sighed. "I did not expect that after leaving Imperial Court blessed land, we would sit together in Snowy Mountain blessed land."
Hei Lou Lan looked at the tea surface. "Things changed faster than expected."
Fang Ming held the cup but did not drink immediately.
The alliance had been formed.
But alliance did not mean trust.
It only meant betrayal now had a cost.
Fairy Li Shan looked toward Hei Lou Lan. "Little Lan, since the oath has been made, we should discuss your ascension."
The room became serious again.
Hei Lou Lan placed her tea cup down. "I cannot delay much longer. Hei Cheng's attention is increasing, and Northern Plains' super forces are still searching for those connected to Imperial Court blessed land. The more time passes, the worse the situation becomes."
Fang Yuan leaned back slightly. "Ascension with Great Strength True Martial Physique will not be small. If Hei Cheng acts during the process, the danger will multiply."
"That is why we need preparation," Fairy Li Shan said.
Her gaze moved briefly toward Fang Ming.
"You have already succeeded once."
Fang Ming knew what she wanted.
Experience.
Not general ascension knowledge, but experience from surviving the ascension of Great Strength True Martial Physique.
He said calmly, "Do not pursue perfection at the cost of survival. Ten extreme physique ascension will draw violent reaction. Heaven qi, earth qi, and human qi must be balanced carefully. If outside enemies interfere during qi balance, even a small disturbance can become fatal."
Hei Lou Lan listened without interrupting.
Fang Ming continued, "Steel Body Strength Gu should not be used early. Save it for the stage where your body bears the greatest pressure. If you use it too soon, you may survive the first wave and die in the second."
Tai Bai Yun Sheng's expression turned grave.
Fang Yuan watched Fang Ming silently.
This was not empty advice. The details were too direct. This person had truly survived something terrifying.
Fairy Li Shan asked, "And the location?"
"Hidden is not enough," Fang Ming said. "The place must endure the disturbance. If the environment collapses midway, concealment becomes useless. Prepare for calamities, desolate beasts, and human interference together. Treat all three as one disaster."
Hei Lou Lan nodded slowly.
Fang Ming placed the tea cup down.
"I will come when the time is decided."
Fairy Li Shan's eyes moved slightly.
Fang Yuan looked at him again.
Hei Lou Lan had already known this, but hearing it spoken here carried different weight.
Fang Ming did not elaborate.
He had already invested Steel Body Strength Gu. If Hei Lou Lan ascended successfully, the return would be worth the risk. If she failed, he would lose too much.
Appearing personally was not generosity.
It was control over the outcome of his own investment.
The snow outside fell harder.
Inside the room, five Gu Immortals sat around a table, bound by Mountain Pledge Gu but separated by their own motives.
Fang Yuan wanted survival and opportunity.
Tai Bai Yun Sheng wanted safety.
Hei Lou Lan wanted freedom and revenge.
Fairy Li Shan wanted to protect Hei Lou Lan.
Fang Ming wanted his investment to live long enough to become useful.
The tea was warm.
The oath was firm.
And somewhere beyond Snowy Mountain, Hei Cheng was still moving.