Fang Ming waited until his Copy cooldown returned.
He did not rush during this period. The three Hua Hai Immortals had already been sent out according to his arrangements, and his aperture continued developing steadily. The five junglefowl formations produced without pause. The twelve mortal villages around them slowly expanded, their roads and fields becoming more orderly with each passing year inside the aperture.
But Fang Ming's attention was not on the villages today.
It was on a promise.
One month had passed since Hei Lou Lan lent him Slave Gu.
Now, it was time to settle the trade.
Purple smoke gathered around Fang Ming's body. Two breaths later, he vanished from his Eastern Sea island.
When he appeared again, he was near Snowy Mountain blessed land.
Hei Lou Lan had only recently ascended, but her aura was already much more stable than before. She was still sharp and cold, but the mortal pressure around her had vanished completely. The immortal aura of a strength path Gu Immortal now surrounded her body.
She looked at Fang Ming. "You came for the Slave Gu matter?"
Fang Ming nodded.
He raised his palm, and an Immortal Gu appeared.
Its body shone with a dark copper glow. It did not have the heavy metallic pressure of Steel Body Strength Gu, but its aura was flexible and condensed, as if metal had been softened and refined into living skin.
"Copper Skin Strength Gu," Fang Ming said. "A strength path Immortal Gu. I want to use this as the exchange for your Slave Gu."
Hei Lou Lan did not answer immediately.
She took the Gu and inspected it carefully.
A one-time-use Slave Gu was valuable, but its value depended greatly on timing and target. If it was not used properly, it was only potential. A permanent-use strength path Immortal Gu was different. For a newly ascended strength path Gu Immortal like Hei Lou Lan, it was directly useful.
Still, she was not someone who would accept blindly.
She activated Copper Skin Strength Gu.
A layer of copper-colored light flowed across her skin. It did not form a rigid shell. Instead, it seemed to blend with her muscles, bones, tendons, and skin, creating a flexible defensive layer.
Hei Lou Lan moved.
She raised her arm, stepped forward, twisted her waist, and threw several punches in succession.
The copper light moved with her body smoothly.
There was no obvious stiffness.
Then Fang Ming raised one finger.
A controlled strength path force struck her shoulder.
Hei Lou Lan did not dodge.
The attack landed with a dull metallic sound. The copper light trembled, absorbing most of the impact, while her body only shifted half a step.
She tested it several more times.
After a while, she deactivated the Gu and said, "Its defense is slightly inferior to Steel Body Strength Gu."
Fang Ming nodded calmly. "That is true."
Hei Lou Lan looked at him.
Fang Ming continued, "Steel Body Strength Gu has stronger defensive power, but that strength comes with weight. It hardens the body, strengthens resistance, and makes the user difficult to injure, but it also affects flexibility and movement to some degree."
Hei Lou Lan's eyes moved slightly.
She had used Steel Body Strength Gu during ascension. She understood this point.
Fang Ming pointed at Copper Skin Strength Gu. "Copper Skin Strength Gu is weaker in pure defense, but it does not hinder movement. Instead, it improves the smoothness of physical action. It is better for rapid combat, body control, and flexible strength path fighting."
Hei Lou Lan lowered her gaze to the Gu.
Fang Ming added, "Besides, your Slave Gu is one-time-use. Copper Skin Strength Gu can be used repeatedly. For a newly ascended strength path Gu Immortal, this is a fair exchange."
Hei Lou Lan was silent for a few breaths.
Then she nodded.
"Accepted."
She took out Slave Gu and handed it to Fang Ming.
Fang Ming accepted it.
With this, the one-month borrowing agreement was concluded.
Hei Lou Lan received a useful permanent strength path Immortal Gu. Fang Ming obtained the original Slave Gu fully, after already creating variants from it. Both sides gained what they needed.
But Fang Ming did not leave immediately.
"I have another deal," he said.
Hei Lou Lan looked at him. "Speak."
"I want to borrow two of your Immortal Gu."
Hei Lou Lan's gaze sharpened slightly.
"Which two?"
"Phantom Strength Gu and Inner Strength Qi Immortal Gu."
Hei Lou Lan did not immediately refuse, but her expression became more serious.
She had only just become a Gu Immortal. Her immortal aperture was still empty and needed investment. Immortal Gu were the foundation of battle strength. Lending them was not a small matter.
Fang Ming naturally understood.
He raised his hand.
Two Immortal Gu appeared.
Steel Body Strength Gu.
Tyrannical Strength Gu.
"I will leave these two with you as collateral," Fang Ming said. "In addition, I will give you fifty immortal essence stones."
Hei Lou Lan's gaze changed.
Tyrannical Strength Gu was one of Fang Ming's main combat Gu. Steel Body Strength Gu had already proven its value during her ascension. For him to leave these two as collateral showed sincerity.
Fifty immortal essence stones were also not a small sum for her current situation.
She had just ascended. Her super grade blessed land had great potential, but potential needed money. She needed to purchase resources, arrange her aperture, prepare Gu worms, build production, and stabilize future development.
Immortal essence stones were exactly what she lacked.
"You only want to borrow them?" Hei Lou Lan asked.
"Yes."
"For how long?"
"At most two months."
Hei Lou Lan looked at Fang Ming for a long moment.
Then she took out Phantom Strength Gu and Inner Strength Qi Immortal Gu.
"Fine."
Fang Ming handed over Steel Body Strength Gu, Tyrannical Strength Gu, and fifty immortal essence stones.
Hei Lou Lan accepted them.
The exchange was complete.
Fang Ming did not delay. After leaving Snowy Mountain, he returned to his Eastern Sea island and entered his immortal aperture.
There, he took out Phantom Strength Gu.
This Gu was useful.
Very useful.
Fang Ming activated Copy.
The familiar mysterious power moved.
Phantom Strength Gu was reflected, analyzed, and reshaped through Fang Ming's ability. Its structure, dao marks, and conceptual foundation were drawn into a new direction.
A new Immortal Gu formed.
Specter Strength Gu.
Compared with Phantom Strength Gu, Specter Strength Gu carried a colder and more elusive aura. Phantom Strength produced strength path phantoms that were visible and direct. Specter Strength leaned toward concealment and illusory force, as if strength itself had become a ghost hiding in space.
Fang Ming stored it carefully.
He did not use Counterfeit Copy on Inner Strength Qi Immortal Gu.
That Gu was too suitable for him.
Inner Strength Qi Immortal Gu could connect well with his strength path system and future plans. Using Counterfeit Copy on it and accepting an inferior result would be wasteful. He would wait until the next month and copy it properly with normal Copy.
As for this month's Counterfeit Copy, Fang Ming used it elsewhere.
The junglefowl formation.
He had already created five formations. By now, his understanding of the structure was deep. He knew which parts were core, which parts stabilized production, which parts assisted growth, and which parts could tolerate weakness without damaging the whole operation.
Counterfeit Gu always had flaws.
But flaws were not always fatal.
If the weakness appeared in the wrong place, the formation might lose productivity, stability, or even collapse.
If the weakness was guided into an unimportant support section, the formation could still function.
Fang Ming used Counterfeit Copy to create one part of a new junglefowl food beast formation.
Then he waited another month.
During that month, his servants' reports began arriving.
Fairy Li Shan also sent news.
She had finally found enough buyers for the fifth formation's output.
This solved one of Fang Ming's lingering problems.
The fifth formation had been producing without a stable buyer, forcing him to push excess stock into treasure yellow heaven or storage. Now, Fairy Li Shan's network could absorb the output.
It was not spectacular, but it was stable.
Stability was profit.
Fairy Huang Sha's report came soon after.
Her progress in Hai Shi blessed land was better than expected.
Hai Shi blessed land was one of Eastern Sea's famous markets. It was not the same as the Trade Merchant Alliance, but it gathered many lone cultivators, demonic cultivators, small forces, and middlemen. The rules were complicated, but there was opportunity everywhere.
Fairy Huang Sha had not rushed.
She sold small batches first.
Then she let buyers verify the quality.
After that, she slowly mentioned that she could provide stable supply.
This method was slow, but effective.
By the time Fang Ming completed the second counterfeit formation core one month later, Fairy Huang Sha had already found buyers for the sixth formation's output.
Fang Ming was satisfied.
He rewarded her with five immortal essence stones.
"You did well," Fang Ming said through their contact method. "For now, you have no urgent task. Continue maintaining your identity and contacts. You may move freely as long as you report anything important."
Fairy Huang Sha's respectful voice answered, "Yes, master."
Fairy Qing Suo also proved capable.
She had entered Eastern Sea Zombie Alliance carefully, using the identity of a small merchant. Zombie Alliance did have food beast demand, though not as much as Fang Ming hoped. Immortal zombies needed to feed Gu, maintain blessed lands, and trade goods, but the market was not endless.
Still, Fairy Qing Suo found enough buyers for one formation's output.
Fang Ming immediately adjusted his channels.
The second formation's output was pulled away from the Eastern Sea Merchant Alliance.
It was redirected to Eastern Sea Zombie Alliance.
This left only the first formation trapped in the Merchant Alliance price war.
Fang Ming rewarded Fairy Qing Suo with five immortal essence stones as well.
Fairy Qing Suo also reported honestly, "Master, Zombie Alliance does not seem to have much more demand for this type of food beast. Staying here longer may not bring another full channel soon."
Fang Ming considered this for a while.
Then he gave her a new task.
"Approach Miao Ming Shen."
Fairy Qing Suo paused slightly. "Miao Ming Shen of Eastern Sea?"
"Yes."
Miao Ming Shen was a special person in Eastern Sea.
He was not like Fairy Li Shan, who had Mountain Pledge Gu to form reliable agreements, but he had his own value. He maintained wide relationships with lone immortals, hidden forces, and even some super forces. He was skilled at managing interpersonal connections and often gathered people for blessed land or inheritance exploration.
In a way, he was an Eastern Sea equivalent of a relationship hub.
If Fairy Qing Suo could enter his circle, Fang Ming might gain access not only to buyers, but also to future opportunities.
"Do not rush," Fang Ming instructed. "Do not expose too much. Start by becoming a small contact. If there is a chance to join one of his exploration groups, take it. If not, wait."
"Yes, master."
Compared with Fairy Qing Suo and Fairy Huang Sha, Fairy Fen Meng's progress in Central Continent was slower.
This was expected.
Central Continent was not Eastern Sea.
The ten great ancient sects watched over the region. Small sects, loose organizations, and mortal markets existed, but immortal-level trade was more sensitive. Fairy Fen Meng had found some small one-time buyers, but no stable buyer capable of absorbing a whole formation's output.
Fang Ming was not angry.
A slow channel was still a channel.
Central Continent needed time.
During this period, Fang Ming also finished the sixth junglefowl formation.
This sixth formation used counterfeit Gu in non-critical sections, but its core production remained stable. Its efficiency was slightly lower than a perfect formation, but not enough to matter greatly.
More importantly, it cost less.
The sixth formation's output went to Hai Shi blessed land through Fairy Huang Sha.
Fang Ming reviewed his current market situation.
The first formation remained in the Eastern Sea Merchant Alliance, suffering under the price war.
The second formation now supplied Eastern Sea Zombie Alliance.
The third formation continued selling through treasure yellow heaven.
The fourth formation supplied Lang Ya blessed land.
The fifth formation had buyers found by Fairy Li Shan.
The sixth formation sold through Hai Shi blessed land.
For the first time in a while, his production was no longer choking on unsold stock.
Fang Ming stood above the food beast region in his immortal aperture, looking down at the six formation areas.
Red and green junglefowl moved in controlled regions. Mortal workers from the nearby villages transported feed, cleaned pens, repaired roads, and collected useful byproducts. Young Gu Masters patrolled with mortal Gu, managing weak beasts and reporting abnormalities.
Everything was still crude.
But the system was becoming larger.
Fang Ming's thoughts turned to the Eastern Sea Merchant Alliance.
The price war there had grown uglier.
The price had fallen to around fifty immortal essence stones per formation's monthly output.
That was almost half of proper market value.
Fang Ming still made profit because his production cost was abnormally low. His formations were built around Immortal Gu and Copy. He did not operate like ordinary food beast merchants.
But the others?
Many of them were likely selling at a loss.
They were not trying to profit.
They were trying to force him out.
Fang Ming did not feel anger.
He analyzed the matter coldly.
Why had things developed this way?
At the beginning, he had entered the market too aggressively.
He had carried large stock.
He had rushed to sell.
He had ignored unspoken rules.
He had acted like an outside force with overwhelming supply and no patience for local relationships.
From his perspective, he had simply wanted to convert goods into immortal essence stones quickly.
From their perspective, he was a dangerous disruptor.
An outsider with unknown backing, undercutting prices and threatening established channels.
Their reaction was harsh, but not irrational.
Fairy Qing Suo and Fairy Huang Sha had taken a different approach.
They entered slowly.
They sold small amounts.
They let buyers test quality.
They respected local rhythm.
They built trust before increasing supply.
Because of that, they did not trigger the same immediate hostility.
Fang Ming understood this.
But he also knew he could not personally copy their method everywhere.
He had too many things to do.
Copy cooldowns needed planning.
Killer moves needed improvement.
Aperture development needed supervision.
Immortal ascension preparations needed time.
Markets, formations, tribulations, intelligence, cultivation, future opportunities—each one pulled at him.
He could not spend an entire month smiling at merchants, attending small gatherings, testing trust, and slowly inserting himself into one market.
But his servants could.
This was their value.
Fang Ming's gaze moved toward the distant villages.
Three Gu Immortal servants were not enough to dominate anything.
But they were enough to reduce waste.
They could handle small negotiations.
They could enter markets patiently.
They could gather information.
They could create identities.
They could wait.
Waiting was often more expensive than fighting.
Fang Ming suddenly thought of Spectral Soul Demon Venerable.
His expression became thoughtful.
Obedient Servant Gu and Loyal Servant Gu were only a crude imitation of a greater concept.
Fang Ming had taken other Gu Immortals and made them serve him.
Useful, but imperfect.
Their thoughts were still their own. Their initiative remained, but so did their limitations. They needed orders, resources, caution, and supervision.
Spectral Soul's split soul method was different.
A split soul was another self.
It could move independently, scheme independently, cultivate independently, and chase opportunities with the same core will. It could enter different regions, build different identities, and prepare different plans at the same time.
If even Fang Ming's budget version was already this useful, then how terrifying was Spectral Soul's true method?
No wonder Spectral Soul could lay out plans across regions and eras.
No wonder Shadow Sect could appear everywhere.
Fang Ming exhaled slowly.
"Genius," he muttered.
It was not praise given lightly.
Spectral Soul's path was cruel, but its efficiency was undeniable.
Fang Ming did not plan to imitate it blindly. Split souls were not a simple trick; they involved soul path depth, foundation, risks, and hidden consequences. But the principle behind it was worth learning.
One person could not be everywhere.
So one needed hands.
Trusted hands.
Hands that could move before the opportunity appeared.
Hands that could wait in places where the main body could not.
Fang Ming lowered his gaze.
His hands were still few.
But now, he had begun.
Another month passed.
His Copy cooldown returned again.
This time, he used normal Copy on Inner Strength Qi Immortal Gu.
The process was smoother than expected. Inner Strength Qi was closely related to the inner flow of strength path power, body qi, and hidden force accumulation. It suited Fang Ming's current development well.
When the copied Immortal Gu formed, Fang Ming stored it with satisfaction.
Afterward, he returned Phantom Strength Gu and Inner Strength Qi Immortal Gu to Hei Lou Lan and took back Steel Body Strength Gu and Tyrannical Strength Gu.
The temporary transaction ended cleanly.
Hei Lou Lan gained fifty immortal essence stones and Copper Skin Strength Gu.
Fang Ming gained Specter Strength Gu, his own Inner Strength Qi Immortal Gu, and kept Slave Gu fully.
Both sides were satisfied.
Back in his immortal aperture, Fang Ming reviewed his current situation.
His finances had stabilized after the Lang Ya transaction.
His formation network had expanded to six.
His markets were diversified.
His servants were operating.
His strength path Gu set had grown again.
And his next objective was becoming clearer.
Second aperture.
Enslavement path ascension.
The three fairies were useful, but they were only the beginning.
If he wanted to handle future dream path opportunities, wider trade channels, hidden inheritances, and regional identities, he needed more preparation.
Some opportunities could be seized with strength.
Some required money.
Some required information.
And some required someone to already be standing in the right place long before the opportunity appeared.
Fang Ming looked across his immortal aperture.
The junglefowl formations continued producing.
The villages continued growing.
The new sixth formation operated steadily.
In the distance, young Gu Masters trained under simple rules he had established. Mortal workers transported materials through dirt roads that would one day become proper trade routes inside his aperture.
His foundation was still young.
But it was no longer only himself.
Fang Ming closed his eyes.
The next ascension would not be strength path.
It would be enslavement path.
And this time, when he stepped forward, he would not be stepping forward alone.