Three years passed inside Fang Ming's immortal aperture.
To the outside world, it was only one month.
Inside the aperture, Fang Ming had spent those three years almost entirely on Myriad Clones Gu.
At first, the clones were awkward.
They moved too stiffly, reacted too slowly, and required too much attention. If Fang Ming commanded them one by one, their value was limited. If he let them move freely, their flaws became obvious. They could confuse enemies for a moment, but against experienced Gu Immortals, a moment was not enough.
Thus, Fang Ming trained them like an enslavement path army.
Some clones were used to lure.
Some were used to block vision.
Some were used to trigger killer moves.
Some were used as false main bodies.
Some were used to die.
Death was also a function.
After three years of adjustment, Fang Ming's control became much smoother. Myriad Clones Gu was no longer just a newly refined Immortal Gu. It had become the core of a developing battle system.
The most important improvement was the tattooed killer move arrangement.
This method came from the inheritance Fang Ming had obtained during the Imperial Court blessed land period. It carried the style of Reckless Savage Demon Venerable: crude, direct, powerful, and rigid.
A killer move was engraved in advance like a tattoo. Once activated, it would burst out instantly.
The disadvantage was obvious. The move could not be changed once arranged. An attack tattoo was only an attack tattoo. A defensive tattoo was only a defensive tattoo. It also consumed life force if used by normal Gu Masters.
But Fang Ming's clones were not normal Gu Masters.
They were disposable.
For them, rigidity was not a weakness.
It was efficiency.
After leaving seclusion, Fang Ming inspected his formations briefly.
The villages had continued to grow. Eagle Sect had stabilized its first batch of disciples. The eagle formation's young eagles had already begun flying in controlled regions, hunting under supervision while avoiding forbidden zones.
The six junglefowl formations continued to produce food beasts.
The first formation's output was still tied to the Eastern Sea Merchant Trade Alliance.
Although the price war had reduced its profit severely, Fang Ming had kept this channel alive. It was not for income alone. It was a foothold, a presence, and a line into the alliance.
Now, the monthly delivery time had arrived.
Fang Ming left his aperture and headed toward the Eastern Sea Merchant Trade Alliance.
The sea was vast and blue.
Clouds drifted lazily above. Waves rose and fell below. Fang Ming flew through the air, his expression calm.
He did not hurry.
But halfway through the journey, the wind changed.
The clouds ahead split apart.
Behind him, the sea surface suddenly rose, forming a wall of water that blocked retreat.
On his left, a group of Gu Immortals emerged from concealment. On his right, more figures appeared. In front and behind, auras unfolded one after another.
Twenty Gu Immortals.
Fang Ming stopped in the air.
His gaze swept across them.
Seventeen Rank 6.
Three Rank 7.
The three Rank 7 Gu Immortals stood at different positions, forming the core of the encirclement. Their auras were deep and stable, clearly prepared.
One of them was an old man in a dark blue robe. His beard flowed down to his chest, and his eyes were narrow like a merchant calculating accounts.
Another was a middle-aged woman with silver hair and a jade abacus in her hand.
The last was a tall man with bronze skin and a pair of heavy golden rings around his arms.
The old man spoke first.
"Fang Ming."
His voice spread across the sea.
"You entered our market without greeting seniors. You sold goods recklessly. You broke prices, ignored rules, and damaged the harmony of the Eastern Sea Merchant Trade Alliance."
Fang Ming looked at him without speaking.
The silver-haired woman continued coldly, "Because of you, we were forced to lower prices. The losses we suffered this month are not small."
The bronze-skinned Rank 7 sneered. "A newcomer should know the conduct of a newcomer. You relied on some production method and thought you could eat alone. Did you think Eastern Sea's market belongs to you?"
A Rank 6 Gu Immortal laughed from the side. "Kneel, apologize, and pay compensation. Hand over your supply method and accept our arrangement. Perhaps seniors will still leave you a path to live."
Another added, "If you refuse, do not blame us for enforcing alliance rules."
Fang Ming listened quietly.
Rules.
Harmony.
Seniors.
Compensation.
He had heard similar words in many places. Different regions used different phrases, but the meaning was always the same.
You touched our benefit.
So you are wrong.
Fang Ming did not answer.
Immortal essence moved.
Myriad Clones Gu activated.
In an instant, figures split from his body one after another.
Ten.
Twenty.
Fifty.
One hundred.
A hundred Fang Mings appeared in the air, each with the same face and similar aura. Then they scattered in different directions like birds fleeing a net.
The surrounding Gu Immortals were startled for a moment.
Then the bronze-skinned Rank 7 laughed loudly.
"Trying to escape with clone tricks? Chase!"
The encirclement moved.
Most of the Rank 6 Gu Immortals charged out immediately, each choosing a target. They were not fools, but they still had confidence. These clones were numerous, but their auras were not terrifying. A proper killer move should be enough to destroy one.
A Rank 6 fire path Gu Immortal rushed after one Fang Ming.
His sleeves burned with red flames as he formed a flaming spear in his hand.
"Where are you running?"
The Fang Ming ahead suddenly stopped.
The Rank 6 Gu Immortal's eyes flashed.
He thought this was a clone that had reached its limit.
But in the next instant, Fang Ming turned around.
The air between them twisted.
Immortal killer move—
Tyrannical Crush.
An invisible force descended like a giant hand closing from all sides.
The fire path Gu Immortal's expression changed drastically. His flaming spear shattered before it could be thrown. His defensive Gu activated, forming a layer of fire armor around his body.
Crack.
The fire armor collapsed.
His bones broke.
His body was crushed into a twisted mass before he could even scream.
First kill.
Fang Ming did not pause.
A clone in the distance was being chased by another Rank 6 Gu Immortal. That Gu Immortal used a wind path killer move, throwing dozens of crescent blades forward. The clone was cut apart quickly, scattering into light.
The Rank 6 Gu Immortal had just revealed a smile when his heart suddenly tightened.
Behind him, Fang Ming appeared.
Tyrannical Clash.
The invisible strength path force struck like a mountain.
The Rank 6 Gu Immortal's body shot downward, smashing into the sea. A huge crater appeared on the water surface for a brief moment before waves closed over it.
His aura vanished.
Second kill.
Not far away, a third Rank 6 Gu Immortal saw this scene clearly.
His scalp went numb.
"He is the real one!"
He turned and fled without hesitation.
This person was decisive. After seeing two Rank 6 Gu Immortals die so quickly, he did not try to test Fang Ming. He directly used a movement killer move, his body turning into a streak of yellow light.
Fang Ming raised his hand.
Immortal killer move—
Tyrannical Suction.
The yellow light trembled violently.
The fleeing Gu Immortal felt an irresistible force lock onto his body. The sea below him seemed to move backward. The sky ahead became farther away. His entire body was pulled back like a fish dragged by a hook.
"No!"
He shouted and activated three defensive methods at once.
Fang Ming's fingers closed.
Tyrannical Crush.
The yellow light shattered.
Blood rained into the sea.
Third kill.
At this moment, the battlefield finally changed.
The first wave of clones had almost all been destroyed. The Rank 6 Gu Immortals who had chased them stopped one after another, their previous contempt vanishing.
Three dead.
In such a short time, three Rank 6 Gu Immortals had died.
The old man in the dark blue robe narrowed his eyes.
The silver-haired woman's jade abacus clicked softly.
The bronze-skinned Rank 7 no longer laughed.
The remaining seventeen Gu Immortals surrounded Fang Ming again, but their formation was tighter this time.
"Do not chase alone," the old man said coldly. "His clones are used to split us apart. The real body hides among them."
Fang Ming remained expressionless.
Myriad Clones Gu activated again.
Another wave of clones spread out, rushing in every direction.
This time, the Rank 6 Gu Immortals hesitated.
The bronze-skinned Rank 7 stepped forward.
"Childish."
He raised his arm.
The golden rings around his wrist rang against each other.
Immortal killer move—
Sea Shaking Shockwave.
A circular wave burst outward from him.
It did not look sharp. It did not look concentrated. But it spread extremely fast, passing over the sky and sea in a wide arc.
The clones touched by the shockwave trembled.
Then they shattered one after another.
Dozens vanished.
Then the rest.
In only a few breaths, Fang Ming's second clone wave was wiped clean.
The bronze-skinned Rank 7 sneered. "Your method is only useful against those who do not understand it."
The surrounding Gu Immortals relaxed slightly.
So that was it.
His clones were troublesome, but fragile.
Once a Rank 7 used a large-area killer move, the problem could be solved.
Several Rank 6 Gu Immortals regained confidence.
"Rank 6 is still Rank 6."
"He killed three because we were careless."
"As long as we stay together, he cannot do anything."
Fang Ming looked at the fading traces of his destroyed clones.
He had already judged the move.
Wide range.
Fast spread.
Low concentration.
Excellent against scattered weak targets.
Poor against strong defense.
Fang Ming raised his hand again.
This time, the aura was different.
Myriad Clones Gu activated, but another layer followed.
Immortal killer move—
Steel Armored Myriad Clones.
Figures appeared again.
One hundred clones emerged, but these clones were covered in dark steel armor. Their bodies were heavier, their auras deeper, and their surfaces carried a faint metallic light.
The bronze-skinned Rank 7 snorted and used Sea Shaking Shockwave again.
The circular wave expanded.
It swept across the armored clones.
The clones shook.
But none shattered.
The bronze-skinned Rank 7's expression changed.
The steel-armored clones scattered immediately.
This time, the Gu Immortals did not dare to chase alone.
"Groups of three!" the silver-haired woman ordered.
The Rank 6 Gu Immortals moved quickly, forming teams of two and three. They pursued the armored clones carefully, not allowing themselves to be isolated.
Fang Ming watched them adjust.
They were not idiots.
But caution slowed them.
And slowing down created gaps.
Three Rank 6 Gu Immortals chased a group of armored clones toward the east. They moved together, maintaining distance and defensive methods. One specialized in water path, one in light path, and one in metal path.
The water path Gu Immortal used waves to restrict movement.
The light path Gu Immortal used beams to identify false bodies.
The metal path Gu Immortal prepared defense.
Their cooperation was not bad.
But they were chasing clones.
And Fang Ming was chasing them.
The armored clones ahead suddenly turned back.
The three Gu Immortals immediately slowed.
At that moment, Fang Ming appeared above them.
Tyrannical Clash.
The invisible force fell like a collapsing cliff.
The metal path Gu Immortal reacted fastest. His body turned bronze, and several metal shields appeared above him.
The shields shattered.
His arms broke.
But he survived half a breath longer than the others.
The water path Gu Immortal was crushed directly, his body exploding into mist and blood.
The light path Gu Immortal tried to turn into light and flee, but Fang Ming's left hand pulled downward.
Tyrannical Suction.
The escaping light twisted and was dragged back into the force field.
Tyrannical Crush followed.
The light path Gu Immortal died.
The metal path Gu Immortal spat blood and fled backward without hesitation. His defensive methods had saved him once, but he did not dare stay for a second exchange.
Fang Ming wanted to pursue, but two Rank 7 auras pressed toward him from afar.
He stopped.
The chance was gone.
But two more Rank 6 Gu Immortals were dead.
Five kills.
The battlefield became silent for a moment.
The remaining fifteen Gu Immortals gathered again.
This time, no one spoke of kneeling.
No one spoke of compensation.
The old man in the dark blue robe looked at Fang Ming with a cold expression.
"Good. Very good. No wonder you dared to enter our market."
The silver-haired woman's jade abacus spun. "Do not give him space. His method relies on splitting the battlefield."
The bronze-skinned Rank 7 said in a deep voice, "Corner him."
The fifteen Gu Immortals moved at once.
The sea below rose into walls.
The clouds above condensed into a formation.
Light barriers appeared in several directions.
Fang Ming's escape paths narrowed rapidly.
He released another group of armored clones, but this time the enemy did not scatter. The three Rank 7s each controlled one side, while the Rank 6s formed layers behind them. The clones could move, but they could not split the encirclement as easily as before.
Several clones were destroyed by concentrated attacks.
Some broke through gaps, but the enemies ignored them.
They were no longer chasing shadows.
They were locking down the real body's movement range.
Fang Ming's eyes remained calm.
The tactic of splitting and hunting had reached its limit.
The enemy had adapted.
Now, he had to break through directly.
The old man raised his hand. "Fang Ming, you killed five of us. Even if you kneel now, it is too late."
The silver-haired woman said coldly, "Capture his soul. Search his aperture if possible. If not, kill him and divide the remains."
The bronze-skinned Rank 7's golden rings trembled. "This time, let us see where you run."
Fang Ming looked at the fifteen Gu Immortals surrounding him.
Three Rank 7.
Twelve Rank 6.
Layered defenses.
Prepared killing moves.
No easy gap.
He exhaled softly.
"Run?"
Immortal essence surged.
Myriad Clones Gu activated.
Steel armor formed.
Tattoo marks lit up.
Immortal killer move—
Tyrannical Steel Armored Tattooed Clone.
One hundred armored clones appeared.
Fang Ming did not stop.
Second activation.
Another hundred.
Third activation.
Another hundred.
Fourth activation.
Another hundred.
Four hundred steel-armored clones filled the air around him.
The cost of creating them alone was forty immortal essence.
The surrounding Gu Immortals' expressions changed, but not to fear yet.
They thought Fang Ming was preparing to scatter again.
The bronze-skinned Rank 7 shouted, "Do not split! Hold the encirclement!"
The old man's eyes flashed. "He wants to use numbers to create chaos."
The silver-haired woman said, "Defensive formations!"
The fifteen Gu Immortals prepared.
But this time, Fang Ming's clones did not run.
They raised their hands.
On each clone's arm, a tattoo lit up.
The same tattoo.
The same mortal killer move.
The same pre-arranged burst.
Fang Ming had chosen rigidity because rigidity gave unity.
Four hundred clones activated their tattooed killer move at once.
Each activation consumed one immortal essence.
Four hundred immortal essence vanished in a single instant.
Together with the forty immortal essence used to create the clones, Fang Ming spent four hundred and forty immortal essence in one attack sequence.
Even for him, this was a terrifying expenditure.
But the result was equally terrifying.
Four hundred mortal killer moves erupted together.
Tyrannical Clash.
At the same time, hidden among them, the real Fang Ming activated the true immortal killer move.
Immortal killer move—
Tyrannical Clash.
The entire sky seemed to collapse.
Invisible force surged from every direction. It was not one attack, nor ten attacks, but hundreds of overlapping impacts converging inward.
The fifteen Gu Immortals' expressions changed completely.
"Defend!"
"Immortal killer move!"
"Protect me!"
"Damn it—"
Defensive lights erupted everywhere.
Water shields.
Golden barriers.
Wooden armor.
Cloud walls.
Bone towers.
Light screens.
But the attacks came too densely.
A Rank 6 Gu Immortal blocked the first Tyrannical Clash, then the second shattered his defense, and the third crushed his body.
Another tried to flee upward, but three impacts struck his back, forcing him downward into the fourth.
A female Gu Immortal activated a defensive Immortal Gu, barely surviving the first wave, but the real immortal-level Tyrannical Clash was hidden among the hundreds of mortal attacks. When it struck, her defense caved in and her body burst apart.
The sea below exploded.
Clouds were torn apart.
The encirclement formation collapsed instantly.
Ten Rank 6 Gu Immortals died in one breath.
Blood mist spread across the sky.
Broken Gu worms fell like rain.
The remaining five Gu Immortals were thrown apart, each injured to different degrees.
Three Rank 7.
Two Rank 6.
For a moment, none of them spoke.
The old man's face was pale.
The silver-haired woman's abacus had stopped moving.
The bronze-skinned Rank 7 stared at the battlefield, his earlier confidence completely gone.
Four hundred and forty immortal essence.
Ten Rank 6 lives.
This was not a normal Rank 6 method.
This was not a market dispute anymore.
Fang Ming stood among the fading armored clones, his expression still calm, but his immortal essence expenditure was enormous. Even with his foundation, even with his living aperture and business income, this attack was not something he could use casually.
But it had done what it needed to do.
It had broken the encirclement.
It had shattered their courage.
It had made the price of their so-called rules clear.
The sea wind blew through the blood mist.
Fang Ming looked at the five survivors.
Only now did he speak.
"Continue."