Enslavement path was expensive.
This was common knowledge among Gu Immortals.
A Gu Immortal who walked enslavement path could become a one-man army. With enough beasts, enough Gu worms, enough food, enough soul foundation, and enough battlefield preparation, an enslavement path Gu Immortal could overwhelm enemies of the same rank through numbers alone.
But that phrase, "with enough," was the true problem.
A single desolate beast could sell for around one hundred and fifty immortal essence stones. Ten desolate beasts would already be around one thousand five hundred stones, and this was only the buying price. Feeding them, healing them, equipping them with Gu, controlling them, hiding them, moving them, and arranging them into a usable battle system were all separate costs.
Even super forces were cautious when supporting enslavement path Gu Immortals.
The path was strong, but it ate resources like a bottomless pit.
Fang Ming's method was not pure enslavement path.
It was strength path combined with enslavement path.
It used Myriad Clones Gu as the core, tattooed killer moves as the burst, and his own tyrannical strength path methods as the hidden blade.
The cost was terrifying.
Just now, one attack sequence had consumed four hundred and forty immortal essence.
Forty to create the four hundred tyrannical steel-armored tattooed clones.
Four hundred more for the tattooed mortal killer moves released through them.
But the result was equally terrifying.
Ten Rank 6 Gu Immortals had died in one breath.
Blood mist still drifted above the sea. Broken Gu fragments fell into the waves. The surrounding air carried the remaining pressure of hundreds of overlapping strength path attacks.
The five survivors stared at Fang Ming.
Three Rank 7.
Two Rank 6.
No one spoke at first.
The old man in the dark blue robe looked at the blood mist, then at Fang Ming, then at the remaining clones around him.
His throat moved slightly.
The bronze-skinned Rank 7 no longer had the arrogance from before. His golden rings were still on his arms, but they did not ring. His hands were still.
The silver-haired woman held her jade abacus tightly. Several beads had cracked.
The two surviving Rank 6 Gu Immortals were even worse. Their faces were pale, and their breathing was unstable. They had just watched people of the same rank as them die like insects under a tide.
Fang Ming was also not relaxed.
Four hundred and forty immortal essence was not a small number.
Even with his living aperture, even with his food beast business, even with his growing markets, this expenditure was still painful.
And the result had some luck within it.
These Eastern Sea Gu Immortals had gathered too closely.
They had expected him to scatter and escape again.
They had focused on trapping him instead of preparing for a full frontal barrage.
They were merchants, suppliers, and alliance members before they were battlefield maniacs.
If this same attack had been used against Northern Plains Gu Immortals, Fang Ming estimated that killing even five Rank 6s would have been a good result.
Northern Plains Gu Immortals were different.
They were battle-hardened, suspicious, and much less willing to trust each other's positions in a chaotic fight. They would not gather so cleanly, nor would they give Fang Ming such a perfect target after seeing his clones.
Eastern Sea was rich.
Trade was its theme.
Profit was heavy, but killing intent was often shallow.
These people knew how to pressure markets, how to form alliances, how to use numbers to bully newcomers.
But when the numbers shattered, their courage shattered with them.
After a long silence, the old man in the dark blue robe finally forced out a smile.
"Fellow immortal… there must be a misunderstanding here."
The bronze-skinned Rank 7 immediately followed, "Yes, definitely a misunderstanding. Fellow immortal, there is no need for such hostility."
Fang Ming looked at them calmly.
"There is indeed a misunderstanding."
The old man's expression eased slightly.
Fang Ming continued, "I do not understand why fellow immortals were stopping me from selling my food beasts."
The old man's face stiffened.
The silver-haired woman's eyelids twitched.
The bronze-skinned Rank 7 laughed dryly. "No, no. Fellow immortal misunderstood. We were not stopping you. We were merely cleaning the food path market of disruptors."
"Disruptors?"
"Yes." The old man quickly nodded. "The Eastern Sea Merchant Trade Alliance has always valued stability. Those who disturb the market and damage everyone's interests naturally need to be cleaned out."
Fang Ming turned his gaze toward the blood mist and falling corpses.
Then he nodded.
"So that is how it is."
He raised his hand and gestured toward the dead Gu Immortals.
"The food market disruptors have already been cleaned. Now, the market needs us more than ever before."
The five survivors were silent.
Fang Ming continued calmly, "Many Gu Immortals still need food beasts to feed their beasts and Gu. If supply suddenly drops, it will affect many people. As food beast suppliers, we have a great responsibility. There is no need to dwell on small issues."
Small issues.
The two surviving Rank 6 Gu Immortals almost spat blood.
Fifteen Gu Immortals had died.
More than half of the food beast supplier circle had been slaughtered.
And Fang Ming called this a small issue.
The five survivors cursed inwardly, but none of them spoke against him.
Because Fang Ming was right about one thing.
The market would lack supply now.
The dead Gu Immortals had controlled a large amount of food beast production. Once their channels collapsed, buyers would still need food beasts, but the goods would not be there.
Prices would rise.
The remaining suppliers would profit.
Even the five survivors, despite their hatred and fear, felt a hidden joy.
The dead had died.
The living could eat their market share.
Fang Ming looked at them and said, "Since the disruptors have been cleaned, the six of us should maintain the order of the food beast market from now on."
The old man's smile froze.
"The six of us?"
"Yes." Fang Ming nodded. "You five, and me."
The bronze-skinned Rank 7's eyes trembled with anger.
The silver-haired woman's abacus clicked once.
Fang Ming continued, "If other food beast suppliers try to enter this market recklessly, we should suppress them together. The market needs stability."
The word stability fell into their ears like mockery.
They had used this logic to suppress him.
Now Fang Ming had killed most of them and was using the same logic to claim a seat at the table.
The old man felt his chest tighten.
But he looked at the clones around Fang Ming.
Many of the tattooed killer moves had already been used. He could tell that the terrifying barrage could not be repeated casually without cost. But he did not know how much Fang Ming still had left.
He did not know if Fang Ming had another wave.
He did not know if the real body among the clones was the one he was looking at.
Unknowns were the most frightening.
So the old man smiled.
"Fellow immortal speaks reasonably."
The bronze-skinned Rank 7 lowered his head slightly. "The market indeed needs stability."
The silver-haired woman said slowly, "Then from today onward, we shall maintain it together."
The two surviving Rank 6s also hurriedly agreed.
The agreement was not written.
No pledge Gu was used.
But everyone understood the situation.
For now, this was enough.
The five survivors did not dare stay any longer.
After exchanging a few more empty words, they retreated carefully. They did not turn their backs on Fang Ming until they were far enough away. Even then, their movement was guarded, as if afraid hundreds of tattooed clones would suddenly rush after them.
Fang Ming watched them leave.
He did not chase.
Killing fifteen Rank 6 Gu Immortals was already a shocking result. Trying to force the remaining three Rank 7s to death would be another matter entirely.
Rank 7 Gu Immortals were not so easy to kill.
And Fang Ming had already spent too much.
His goal had been reached.
The market had been broken open.
Only after the five survivors vanished from his perception did Fang Ming shift his attention back to the battlefield.
The clones still remained.
He did not dispel them.
Although their tattooed killer moves had already been used, they were still strength path clones. They could fight in melee, block enemies, and guard the battlefield for several hours before their stored energy vanished.
Fang Ming left them in place.
Then purple smoke gathered around his body.
Two breaths later, he vanished.
When Fang Ming appeared again, he was in Lang Ya blessed land.
Lang Ya land spirit looked at him with surprise.
"You came again? What do you want this time?"
Fang Ming did not waste words.
"I need a method to seal the aperture of a newly dead Gu Immortal before it absorbs enough heaven and earth qi to become a blessed land."
Lang Ya land spirit's brows rose.
"You killed a Gu Immortal?"
"More than one."
Lang Ya land spirit stared at him.
Then he laughed. "Good! Very good! Human Gu Immortals killing each other is always good to see. But why should I lend you such a method?"
"Because I will pay."
"Hmph, pay? Do you think such a method is common?"
"I also need a method to move blessed lands that have already formed."
Lang Ya land spirit's expression became stranger.
"You really killed more than one."
Fang Ming did not deny it.
Lang Ya land spirit walked around him once. "I have both methods."
Fang Ming already knew that.
In the original future, Lang Ya blessed land had shown many strange and profound methods. A refinement path sacred land that had existed for so long naturally possessed ways to handle apertures and blessed lands.
Fang Ming said, "I want to borrow them temporarily."
"No." Lang Ya land spirit refused immediately. "Unless you leave collateral."
Fang Ming expected this.
After a short negotiation, he left several Immortal Gu as collateral. Lang Ya land spirit checked them carefully, then gave him the relevant methods and supporting mortal Gu.
Fang Ming did not stay.
Purple smoke rose again.
He returned to the battlefield.
The sea was still stained with traces of blood. His clones remained scattered in the surroundings, guarding the area like silent soldiers.
No one had returned.
Fang Ming began to work.
The ten Rank 6 Gu Immortals killed in the final barrage had died almost at the same time. Their apertures had not yet completed absorbing heaven and earth qi. With Lang Ya's method, Fang Ming sealed them one by one.
Each seal consumed time and resources, but the result was worth it.
Ten immortal apertures were sealed before they could fully transform into blessed lands.
As for the five Rank 6 Gu Immortals killed earlier, their apertures had already formed blessed lands.
Fang Ming could not seal them in the same way.
He used Lang Ya's second method to move them.
One by one, the five newly formed blessed lands were relocated to his remote island in Eastern Sea.
The process was not easy, but Fang Ming had prepared enough immortal essence and had clone assistance. By the time everything was done, the battlefield had been cleaned as much as possible.
The five blessed lands were closed for now.
Fang Ming had no way to enter them immediately.
But that did not matter.
They were already in his hands.
He could deal with them later.
Only then did Fang Ming finally head toward the Eastern Sea Merchant Trade Alliance.
When he arrived, Lu Chen, the alliance manager responsible for this trade channel, came to receive him.
Lu Chen's expression changed for only a brief instant when he saw Fang Ming.
It was very slight.
But Fang Ming noticed.
Surprise.
Not joy.
Not relief.
Surprise that he was alive.
Fang Ming's expression did not change.
He did not expose anything.
He simply added the name Lu Chen to a quiet place in his mind.
Some grudges did not need to be settled immediately.
When he became strong enough, they could be settled together.
"I am here to place goods," Fang Ming said.
Lu Chen quickly recovered his smile. "Of course, of course. Fellow immortal's goods are always welcome."
Fang Ming brought out the food beast goods from his first formation.
Then he brought out another batch.
Lu Chen's smile stiffened. "This is…"
"My seventh formation's production."
Lu Chen's eyes widened slightly.
Seventh formation.
This meant Fang Ming's production capacity had increased again.
"How does fellow immortal wish to price them?" Lu Chen asked carefully.
"Ninety immortal essence stones per formation output."
Lu Chen froze.
"Ninety?"
The current market price had dropped to around fifty because of the previous price war.
Fang Ming was nearly doubling it at once.
Lu Chen forced a smile. "Fellow immortal, the recent market price is not…"
"Ninety," Fang Ming repeated.
Lu Chen stopped speaking.
Fang Ming knew there might not be immediate sales.
Many buyers had stocked up while the price was low. Others would be shocked by the sudden jump. For a few days, perhaps even a few weeks, the trade might slow down.
But that did not matter.
The supply cap existed.
Many buyers had wanted to buy at low prices but could not obtain enough goods.
Now, fifteen food beast suppliers were dead.
Together, they had controlled around ten formations' worth of production.
Eastern Sea buyers would soon discover that cheap goods were gone.
If they wanted food beasts, they would have to buy at the new price.
The five survivors would try to expand production, but expanding food beast output was not something that could be done overnight. It would take months, perhaps years.
Fang Ming was different.
If he focused entirely on food beast formations, he could create one new formation roughly every month.
He estimated that he could seize five or six formations' worth of market share from Eastern Sea in the near future.
But he would not copy only food beast formations.
In the coming half year, there were opportunities far more important than another few production lines.
Food beast business was wealth.
But some opportunities were priceless.
Besides, the three Rank 7s and two Rank 6 survivors still existed.
Their market share could wait.
When Fang Ming became strong enough, he could clean them out too.
After placing the goods, Fang Ming left the Merchant Trade Alliance.
His next destination was Northern Plains.
Fairy Li Shan received him with curiosity.
"You want to borrow Mountain Pledge Gu for one day?"
"Yes."
Fairy Li Shan looked at him. "This is not a small matter."
"I will leave an Immortal Gu as collateral and pay twenty-five immortal essence stones."
Fairy Li Shan's eyes moved.
Twenty-five stones for one day was not low.
More importantly, Fang Ming was willing to leave collateral.
After some consideration, she agreed.
Mountain Pledge Gu was lent for one day.
Fang Ming did not waste time.
During that day, he used Copy.
Mountain Pledge Gu became the base.
His own understanding, the oath structure he wanted, and the practical needs of controlling future subordinates were integrated into the process.
When the copy completed, Fang Ming obtained a new Immortal Gu.
Life Time Pledge Gu.
Its use was not exactly the same as Mountain Pledge Gu, but the direction was clear.
A pledge that tied loyalty, obligation, and consequence across a lifetime.
For sect building, it was exactly what Fang Ming needed.
He returned Mountain Pledge Gu to Fairy Li Shan as agreed.
The collateral was returned.
The transaction ended cleanly.
Time passed.
Not long after, Bian Si Xuan contacted him.
She was ready for immortal ascension.
Fang Ming returned to his aperture and summoned the core members of Eagle Sect.
Bian Si Xuan stood at the front.
Her aura had reached Rank 5 peak stage completely. Her foundation was firm, her mental state was stable, and her eyes contained determination.
Behind her stood another Rank 5 Gu Master and several Rank 4 elites.
They were the first generation core of Eagle Sect.
Fang Ming looked over them.
"Watch carefully."
No one dared speak.
Fang Ming brought them out of his aperture and into Northern Plains.
The sky was vast.
The wind was sharp.
Bian Si Xuan stood alone under the heavens.
This was her immortal ascension.
It was also the first immortal ascension of Eagle Sect.
The Rank 4 and Rank 5 Gu Masters watched from a distance, nervous and excited.
For mortals, immortal ascension was legend.
Now, they would see it with their own eyes.
Bian Si Xuan shattered her aperture.
Heaven qi descended.
Earth qi rose.
Human qi burst from her body.
The three qi gathered violently, surrounding her like a storm.
Bian Si Xuan's expression twisted with pain, but she did not panic. She had prepared for this day for a long time. Fang Ming had provided knowledge, resources, and guidance. Eagle Sect's contribution system had pushed her, but her own will had carried her here.
She balanced the three qi carefully.
The surrounding Gu Masters could barely breathe under the pressure.
Fang Ming watched calmly.
Only when the tribulation formed did he move.
The calamity was not weak, but compared to what Fang Ming had faced, it was manageable. He used Tyrannical Push to divert part of the danger, Tyrannical Grab to restrain the main threat, and Tyrannical Crush to destroy the strongest point at the critical moment.
He did not erase the tribulation completely.
Bian Si Xuan still needed to face enough pressure for heaven and earth to recognize the ascension properly.
After the final wave passed, the three qi stabilized.
A blessed land was born.
Bian Si Xuan's mortal aura transformed.
She became a Gu Immortal.
The Eagle Sect Gu Masters trembled with excitement.
Their sect master had ascended.
The road written on the stone stele was real.
Mortals could become immortals.
But at that moment, Bian Si Xuan's expression changed.
The Rank 5 Slave Gu that Fang Ming had used on her could not withstand the transformation of immortal ascension. Under the washing of three qi and the birth of an immortal body, its control was destroyed.
Memories became clear.
Feelings returned.
The fog over certain thoughts vanished.
Bian Si Xuan slowly turned her head and looked at Fang Ming.
Her gaze was resentful.
Fang Ming saw it.
He smiled.
"Good. It seems the control is gone."
The nearby Eagle Sect Gu Masters did not understand what he meant.
Bian Si Xuan's hands tightened.
Fang Ming said calmly, "You have two choices."
He raised one finger.
"Slave Gu."
Then another.
"Life Time Pledge Gu."
Bian Si Xuan stared at him.
The wind blew between them.
After a long silence, she said through clenched teeth, "Pledge."
Fang Ming nodded.
Life Time Pledge Gu activated.
The oath was not light.
Bian Si Xuan would remain loyal to Eagle Sect, defend it, obey its supreme elder structure, complete missions, and contribute a portion of future gains to the sect. She could have her own path, her own cultivation, her own decisions within boundaries, but betrayal and schemes against Fang Ming or Eagle Sect were forbidden.
The oath settled.
Bian Si Xuan's resentment did not vanish.
Fang Ming did not care.
He looked at her directly.
"Bian Si Xuan."
She remained silent.
"You are an immortal now. A great life awaits you."
Her eyes were cold.
Fang Ming continued, "I am pragmatic. I do not seek revenge if revenge brings no benefit. But I also dislike people scheming around me and wasting my time."
Bian Si Xuan's expression changed slightly.
Fang Ming's voice remained calm.
"The grudge between us was only an insignificant encounter in the grand scheme of things. You can spend your immortal life staring backward, or you can create your own path."
He paused.
"Give up on revenge."
The surrounding wind grew louder.
"Create your path, or follow mine as I reshape this world to my standards."
Bian Si Xuan looked at him for a long time.
She did not forgive him.
She did not thank him.
But she also did not refuse.
Behind her, the Eagle Sect Gu Masters stared with burning eyes.
Their sect master had become an immortal.
Their supreme elder had helped her cross the boundary between mortal and immortal.
And above them, the vast sky of Northern Plains stretched endlessly.
Fang Ming turned away.
The first immortal elder of Eagle Sect had been born.