The eighth star hall floated in the distant sky.
Its starlight pillars hung down like silent chains, connecting nothing and yet seeming to suppress the entire region beneath it. Even from far away, faint battle waves could be felt. They spread through the air in irregular pulses, causing the leaves on distant mountain slopes to tremble.
Fang Yuan, Hei Lou Lan, and Fang Ming moved beneath layers of concealment.
They did not fly openly.
They did not approach in a straight line.
The closer they came to the eighth star hall, the more investigative Gu appeared. Some floated in midair like tiny glass eyes. Some were buried under loose soil. Some clung to the backs of beetles crawling through grass. Some were disguised as leaves, swaying gently among the branches.
Fang Yuan led the way.
Each time they neared an investigative Gu, he either changed direction slightly, used a countering mortal Gu, or guided them through a blind spot. His movements were not hurried, but they were precise.
Hei Lou Lan watched silently.
Fang Ming also watched.
After the previous battlefield deduction, his evaluation of Fang Yuan had risen again. Now, seeing Fang Yuan bypass surveillance one layer after another, that feeling deepened.
These were mortal Gu.
Small methods.
Nothing grand.
Yet if these Gu were ignored, the three of them would have been exposed before they even saw the enemy. In Gu Immortal battles, being seen first or seeing first could decide everything.
Fang Ming had captured three star desolate hounds alive. That was raw strength.
But Fang Yuan was showing another kind of strength.
He made the enemy's preparations useless while using those same preparations as clues.
After passing through another patch of hidden surveillance, Fang Yuan stopped.
He closed his eyes for a breath, then opened them.
"I can mostly confirm it now."
Hei Lou Lan glanced at him. "The two ahead?"
"One is a rank six star path Gu Immortal. He has not shown much direct battle strength, but many of the investigative arrangements carry his style." Fang Yuan's tone was calm. "The other is likely Shi Lei."
Hei Lou Lan's expression changed.
"Immortal Monkey King?"
Fang Yuan nodded.
Hei Lou Lan frowned deeply.
Shi Lei of Combat Immortal Sect was not an ordinary Gu Immortal. He was rank seven, walked earth path, and also cultivated transformation path. His battle strength was famous even in Central Continent. Against such a person, ordinary rank six Gu Immortals were not qualified to speak of victory.
Fang Ming remained silent.
Shi Lei.
He naturally knew this name.
A battle maniac, but not a fool. A famous rank seven expert whose combat instincts were terrifying. Fang Ming's Myriad Clones could confuse many opponents, but against a Gu Immortal like Shi Lei, overconfidence would be courting death.
Fang Ming judged himself calmly.
Among rank sixes, his raw combat strength was high.
His immortal essence reserves, clone methods, strength path killer moves, and capture ability gave him strong advantages.
But Shi Lei was not in the same category.
If they fought here, Fang Ming would have to expose many trump cards. Even then, winning was uncertain, and the price would be unacceptable.
Profit from the shadows.
That was the correct choice.
Hei Lou Lan transmitted, "If it is Shi Lei, even if we cooperate, direct battle will be troublesome."
Fang Yuan gave a cold smile. "Troublesome is too light a word. Myriad Self cannot be used right now. Its core Immortal Gu is starving."
Hei Lou Lan's eyes narrowed.
Fang Ming's gaze moved slightly.
Fang Yuan spoke plainly, as if discussing ordinary weather, but the information was important. Myriad Self was one of Fang Yuan's strongest methods. If it could not be used, Fang Yuan's direct battle strength was reduced.
Hei Lou Lan looked briefly at Fang Ming.
Fang Ming's Myriad Clones was still usable.
But no one suggested using that as the basis for fighting Shi Lei.
Fang Yuan continued, "We are not here to fight him. We are here to gain benefits. If there is a chance, we take it. If not, we leave."
Hei Lou Lan nodded.
Fang Ming also nodded lightly.
This was the correct judgment.
Not long after, they returned to the corpse of the vanishing shadow leopard.
The corpse still lay among shattered rocks, surrounded by investigative Gu. Those arrangements had been set up to prevent wild beasts from approaching and to warn Star Lord Wan Xiang if someone interfered. But in Fang Yuan's hands, they became obstacles with known limits.
He moved first.
A few Gu worms flew out, some faint like dust, some transparent like dew. One by one, the investigative Gu around the corpse were deceived, blocked, or temporarily dulled. Fang Yuan did not destroy them unless necessary. Destroying them would alert the owner.
After the last hidden Gu was bypassed, Hei Lou Lan stored the vanishing shadow leopard corpse into her immortal aperture.
The profit belonged to all three according to the agreement.
Forty percent Fang Yuan.
Thirty percent Hei Lou Lan.
Thirty percent Fang Ming.
Storage was only storage.
Fang Ming had no objection.
After taking the corpse, the three continued.
Soon, they noticed a pattern.
Where the number of investigative Gu increased, there was often a corpse.
The other group had killed desolate beasts but left the bodies behind. Perhaps their goal was the eighth star hall. Perhaps they thought no one else was inside. Perhaps they planned to return after finishing their main objective.
Whatever the reason, the result was the same.
The corpses had become available profit.
And the investigative Gu guarding them had become signposts.
Fang Ming looked at Fang Yuan's back.
This was very Fang Yuan.
The enemy's preparation became his guide. Their caution became his map. Their delay became his harvest.
Fang Yuan also realized this, and his lips curled slightly.
"Change of plan. We gather the corpses first."
Hei Lou Lan's eyes brightened. "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."
Fang Ming said calmly, "Guaranteed profit before uncertain central treasure. Reasonable."
The three changed direction.
The next corpse they found was a blazing divine stallion.
Its body was huge and bright red, with four thick black legs like steel pillars. Golden mane spread over its neck, and even in death, heat radiated from its wounds. Blood flowed out slowly, scorching the nearby grass and causing the soil to smoke.
Fang Yuan identified it. "Blazing divine stallion. Fire path desolate beast. Its blood is a high-grade fire path refinement material, rare even in treasure yellow heaven."
Fang Ming looked at the blood.
With his hidden refinement path grandmaster attainment, he could see more than before. The blood's heat was not merely temperature. It contained stable fire path dao mark traces. If used properly, it could improve several fire path Gu recipes or become a stabilizing material for certain difficult refinement steps.
His expression did not change.
He did not reveal anything.
Hei Lou Lan moved quickly and stored the corpse after Fang Yuan dealt with the surrounding investigative Gu.
They continued.
In the next valley, they found a yellow jade lion.
Unlike the previous corpses, it was still alive.
Barely.
Its body was enormous, with fur like polished yellow jade. A huge wound cut across its stomach, and yellow blood flowed onto the ground. Its eyes were only half open, but even in this state, it let out a low growl when the three approached.
Hei Lou Lan praised softly, "Still has courage."
Fang Yuan's eyes lit up.
He acted immediately.
Healing Gu flew out, landing on the yellow jade lion. Fang Yuan did not heal it fully, only stabilized its life force and stopped its condition from worsening. Saving a dying desolate beast was far easier than capturing a healthy one.
Fang Ming watched quietly.
He wanted living desolate beasts for his enslavement path aperture. A yellow jade lion would be useful.
But Fang Yuan had acted first.
More importantly, Fang Yuan's choice was correct.
Why fight a fresh desolate beast, risking immortal essence and injury, when one could save a half-dead one and obtain the same result? Fang Yuan did not waste chances. He did not chase glory. He extracted benefit from the most efficient angle.
Fang Ming suppressed the small temptation in his heart.
There was an agreement.
There would be more chances.
Fang Yuan turned to Hei Lou Lan. "Store it carefully. This living desolate beast will count toward my portion unless we adjust the split later."
Hei Lou Lan nodded and opened her immortal aperture, taking in the stabilized yellow jade lion.
Fang Ming said nothing.
They moved again.
By now, the pattern had become clearer.
Many of the desolate beasts had been deliberately bled. Their blood was either missing entirely or greatly reduced. This was not normal looting. Flesh, bones, fur, and many materials were left behind, but blood was taken.
Hei Lou Lan frowned. "They are using beast blood for something."
Fang Yuan looked toward the eighth star hall in the sky. "Likely related to the star hall mechanism."
Fang Ming also looked upward.
The eighth star hall had appeared after distant starlight gathered. The dead beasts, the drained blood, the star halls, the spatial wells — these things were connected. But the exact procedure was not yet clear.
There was no need to overthink it now.
They continued scavenging.
A chestnut yak corpse lay beside a broken cliff, its thick hide still warm. Its meat was valuable and had a natural fragrance like roasted chestnuts. Hei Lou Lan stored it with a rare smile.
A golden pangolin corpse was found half-buried among shattered stone. Its armor was damaged, reducing the value, but Fang Yuan still collected it without hesitation.
A flying bear corpse lay on a slope, wings torn and bones broken. Hei Lou Lan's eyes shone when she saw it and stored it quickly. She clearly liked this corpse more than the others.
Fang Ming remained mostly silent during the process.
He guarded.
He observed.
He watched Fang Yuan bypass one investigative arrangement after another.
The more he watched, the more he understood that Fang Yuan's true terror was not one killer move or one Immortal Gu. It was the layers.
First, he gathered information.
Then, he judged risk.
Then, he bypassed surveillance.
Then, he took benefits.
Then, he erased traces.
Each step was small. Together, they became frightening.
Finally, they found the corpse Fang Yuan had originally come for.
Star demon bat.
It lay in a rotten, poisonous swamp. Its body was huge, its wings spread across the mud like torn black banners. Star path marks still glimmered faintly on its flesh, while wind path and dark path traces lingered around the wounds.
Fang Yuan's gaze immediately fell on the wings.
Then his expression darkened slightly.
Damaged.
The wings had been torn during battle. They were still useful, but far from perfect. If transplanted directly, they would affect the quality of true solid bat wings.
Fang Ming noticed Fang Yuan's reaction.
He knew Fang Yuan had come for this.
The star demon bat was not just another corpse to him. Its wings were the main reason this trip had started. Yet because Shi Lei had reached it first and fought it violently, the wings were compromised.
Fang Yuan crouched near the corpse and inspected it.
After a while, he exhaled.
"Still usable, but it needs repair or modification."
Hei Lou Lan said, "You obtained it without fighting. That is already good luck."
Fang Yuan gave a hoarse laugh. "True."
He did not let regret linger.
Even damaged, the star demon bat corpse was valuable. More importantly, it had cost him no direct battle.
Hei Lou Lan stored it.
The three continued toward the eighth star hall.
By now, their harvest was already shocking. Multiple desolate beast corpses, one living yellow jade lion, and the star demon bat Fang Yuan had wanted. Even if they left now, the trip would be profitable.
But none of them suggested leaving.
The eighth star hall still floated above.
That was likely the true center of this opportunity.
As they approached the region beneath it, the battle waves grew stronger.
The star hall shook violently in the sky.
Then, a huge shadow fell.
It dropped from above like a collapsing hill.
Boom!
The ground trembled. Rocks shattered. Dust surged outward in waves.
When the smoke cleared, Fang Yuan, Hei Lou Lan, and Fang Ming saw the enormous corpse before them.
It was a gigantic boar-like beast with traces of astral wind still swirling around its body. Even dead, its aura was far beyond the desolate beast corpses they had collected earlier.
Hei Lou Lan's breathing paused.
Fang Yuan's eyes shone.
Fang Ming's gaze also sharpened.
Ancient desolate beast.
Astral wind flying heavenly boar.
This corpse alone was worth far more than the ordinary desolate beast corpses they had scavenged.
But none of them rushed forward.
All three looked up.
The eighth star hall above was shaking intensely. Explosions rang out from within. Fierce beast growls mixed with the sound of breaking wood and collapsing stone. A pillar of fire burst through the roof of the hall, punching open a huge hole. Starlight leaked from the damaged area, spreading outward like blood from a wound.
Inside, an intense battle was still ongoing.
Through the broken roof and gaps in the hall walls, they could glimpse fragments of the fight.
A huge tree moved within the hall.
Its branches were not normal branches. They were thick, soft, and flexible like tentacles, lashing through the air with terrifying force. One strike shattered a fireball. Another sent a flaming tiger flying.
The flaming tiger crashed into the ground and turned back into a human figure.
Shi Lei.
Even from a distance, his battle intent could be felt.
Star Lord Wan Xiang supported from the side with star path methods, but he clearly did not want to face the tree directly. Beams of starlight shot out, clones flashed, and then several tentacle-like branches smashed through them. Star Lord Wan Xiang was struck and sent flying out of the star hall.
The three below immediately concealed themselves further.
Star Lord Wan Xiang flew far through the air before stabilizing himself. Blood leaked from his mouth. His gaze swept downward briefly.
Fang Yuan had already prepared.
The Gu worms he had left behind earlier activated quietly, creating a faint false image over the region. From above, the ground still looked undisturbed. The ancient desolate beast corpse appeared to remain where it was, silent and untouched.
Star Lord Wan Xiang's gaze did not stop.
His attention returned to the eighth star hall.
He had deliberately allowed himself to be knocked out. Fang Ming understood this from the angle of the fall and the timing of his retreat.
This star path Gu Immortal was also scheming.
He wanted Shi Lei to fight seriously.
Star Lord Wan Xiang healed briefly on a star cloud bed, then returned to the eighth star hall.
Only after he disappeared back into the hall did Fang Yuan move.
"Now."
The three approached the astral wind flying heavenly boar corpse.
Up close, its size was even more astonishing. Its body was like a small hill. Wind path dao marks and star path traces lingered around its flesh. Even dead, faint astral winds moved around its hide, cutting shallow marks into nearby stone.
Fang Yuan inspected it first.
He checked for remaining wild Gu.
Most had either been destroyed in the battle or fled after death. A few weak ones remained, but none were especially important.
Then Fang Yuan attempted to collect its soul.
The result was poor.
Only a fragment remained.
The ancient desolate beast's soul had been badly damaged in battle, likely by methods that struck both body and soul. Fang Yuan sighed softly but did not waste time.
"Move it."
Hei Lou Lan was already prepared.
Fang Yuan activated hundreds of mortal Gu. Light path and dark path Gu mixed with small numbers of strength path, blood path, bone path, and qi path Gu. They flew around the corpse in a complex pattern.
Hei Lou Lan used her prepared Gu worms at the same time.
The astral wind flying heavenly boar corpse slowly shifted.
Then, with coordinated effort, it was pushed into Hei Lou Lan's immortal aperture.
The real corpse vanished.
But Fang Yuan's Gu worms continued moving in place.
Light and shadow condensed, forming the image of the astral wind flying heavenly boar corpse where it had originally fallen. From a distance, it looked almost real. The body shape, shadow, wound marks, and general aura impression were imitated well enough to fool a casual glance.
Fang Ming watched silently.
Again, Fang Yuan had prepared more than the act of theft.
He had prepared the concealment after theft.
Steal the corpse, leave an image, avoid alerting the enemy, buy time. It was simple in concept, but only because Fang Yuan had already thought of it before the opportunity came.
Fang Ming felt the lesson deepen.
Fang Yuan was terrifying because he planned for the step after the step others were still considering.
Hei Lou Lan looked at the fake corpse carefully, then frowned.
"Something is wrong."
Fang Yuan glanced at her. "What?"
Hei Lou Lan pointed calmly. "The anus is missing."
For a brief moment, the tense atmosphere became strange.
Fang Yuan looked at the image.
Indeed, the fake astral wind flying heavenly boar corpse lacked that detail.
Fang Yuan's expression stiffened slightly. He adjusted the Gu worms. Light and shadow shifted, and the missing part appeared.
Hei Lou Lan looked again.
"Now the other side is wrong."
Fang Ming looked away. He did not want to engage in any conversation with those two shameless guys. Why were they only noticing the private parts? What about the legs? Why did this boar have two right-side legs instead of one right and one left?
Fang Yuan's face darkened. "The body is too large. This method has limits. To create one detail, another weakens."
Hei Lou Lan said frankly, "Then keep the more visible parts correct. Anyone inspecting closely will discover it anyway. We only need to fool a glance."
Fang Yuan gave a cold snort but accepted the logic.
The fake image stabilized again.
Above them, the eighth star hall shook again.
This time the impact was far greater.
A thunderous crack sounded from within the hall.
Then, a massive dark-green object burst through one side of the star hall and fell downward.
It was part of the walking meat tree.
A huge broken branch, thick like a bridge, covered in flesh-like bark and lined with tentacle roots, crashed toward the ground.
Boom!
The earth shook.
Dust and broken stone rose into the air.
The fallen fragment twitched once after landing, as if it still possessed life.
Fang Yuan's eyes widened.
Hei Lou Lan's breathing grew heavier.
Fang Ming stared at the broken tree fragment, his gaze deep.
Ancient desolate plant material.
The astral wind flying heavenly boar corpse had already been an enormous gain.
Now, another opportunity had fallen from the eighth star hall.
But this one was closer to danger.
Because above them, Shi Lei was still fighting the rest of the walking meat tree.