Chapter 164: First Through the Door
The blood veil rose over the immemorial ruin bat corpse like a red mountain.
Outside it, demonic path Gu Immortals attacked from every direction. Waves, flames, wind blades, strength path hands, and all sorts of immortal killer moves struck the veil one after another. The blood-colored defense shook, shrank, and then regenerated.
Ju Go stood behind Fang Yuan's group, watching everything with cold sweat hidden beneath his calm expression.
Dong Fang tribe's Gu Immortals were trapped.
Their immortal aperture origin cores were being drawn out.
Dong Fang Chang Fan's possession had already begun.
This was the moment.
Ju Go did not hesitate. Through Fang Ming's prepared information path method, he sent the signal.
Only a few words.
But those few words were enough.
Far away, near Jade Pool blessed land, Fang Ming opened his eyes.
"They are trapped."
Fairy Bian Si Xuan, Fairy Fen Meng, Fairy Huang Sha, and Fairy Qing Suo stood behind him.
None of them spoke.
They had waited for this.
Dong Fang Chang Fan had not finished reviving. The Dong Fang tribe elders had already fallen into his formation. Old Lord Can Yang was guarding the inheritance battlefield. The demonic path Gu Immortals were distracted by the blood veil.
At this exact moment, Jade Pool blessed land was like a house whose strongest guards had walked into a death trap.
Fang Ming raised his hand.
"Move."
The group flew forward.
Jade Pool blessed land was Dong Fang tribe's headquarters. It had existed for thousands of years, formed from portions of blessed lands contributed by generations of Dong Fang tribe Gu Immortals. It was not a simple private aperture. It was the foundation of a super force.
Its entrance was hidden, its space stabilized by earth qi, and its defenses were layered.
But now, those defenses lacked their true controllers.
Fang Ming stopped before an empty stretch of land.
To mortal eyes, there was nothing there.
To Gu Immortals, the space was thicker, heavier, and strangely smooth.
Fang Ming took out several Gu worms.
These Gu were not his.
They were borrowed from Lang Ya land spirit together with a prepared immortal killer move.
Immortal killer move — Twin Teaser.
Two faint lights appeared in front of Fang Ming.
They were thin like needles, but they trembled with terrifying sharpness. One light moved left. One light moved right. They pierced into the empty space, then twisted in opposite directions.
The space before them wrinkled.
Then it tore.
A narrow black crack appeared in the air.
Fairy Qing Suo's eyes brightened. "It opened."
"Go," Fang Ming said.
Fairy Bian Si Xuan entered first. Fairy Fen Meng followed. Fairy Huang Sha and Fairy Qing Suo moved in after her.
Fang Ming entered last.
But just before he stepped through, several immortal auras appeared in the distance.
"They opened it!"
"Jade Pool blessed land!"
"Quick, follow them!"
A few demonic path Gu Immortals had noticed the disturbance and were rushing over.
Fang Ming turned his head.
He did not want to share the first bite.
Golden Specters Gu activated.
Myriad Clones surged.
In the space outside the torn entrance, golden light and dark armor condensed together. One clone appeared. Then ten. Then dozens. Then hundreds.
Each clone wore tyrannical armor. Their eyes were not empty. They had basic thinking, enough to judge, delay, block, and attack. They were not true Gu Immortals, but each one carried a dangerous one-time burst of power.
Tyrannical Crash.
The first looter slowed down instinctively.
Hundreds of armored figures turned toward him at the same time.
The pressure was heavy and brutal.
"What kind of killer move is this?"
Before anyone could answer, one clone stepped forward.
Then another.
Then dozens.
The tyrannical armored clones spread out like a wall.
Fang Ming looked at the approaching Gu Immortals once, then stepped into Jade Pool blessed land.
Behind him, the spatial crack closed.
The looters outside could only curse.
Then the first clash began.
Inside Jade Pool blessed land, the world opened wide.
Pools and lakes spread across the land like scattered stars. Some were clear as glass. Some shone with blue light. Some released white mist. Some were hidden among forests, mountains, reeds, and marshes.
The air was rich with resource aura.
Gu worms flew in groups.
Fish shadows moved beneath jade-colored water.
Spirit plants grew along pool edges.
Farther away, the roars of desolate beasts echoed from different directions.
Jade Pool blessed land was not empty.
But it was leaderless.
That was enough.
Fang Ming did not rush to grab the nearest pool.
He raised his hand.
The aperture opened.
Eagles flew out one after another.
Rank three scouting eagles.
Rank four wind chaser eagles.
Rank five sharp-eyed eagles.
Then, with a cry that cut across the sky, the silver crown desolate eagle spread its wings and soared upward.
Its silver feathers reflected the light of Jade Pool blessed land. The moment it rose, smaller eagles scattered around it, forming a wide scouting net.
Fang Ming closed his eyes briefly.
Eagle Eye Immortal Gu connected his vision.
The blessed land unfolded from above.
A blue pearl lake to the east, filled with spirit pearl fish and shell Gu nests.
A red spring near a rocky slope, burning with fire marrow vapor.
A jade reed marsh to the south, hiding groups of water blade Gu.
A mountain pool guarded by golden-maned jade lions.
A white mist valley containing moon milk water.
A half-buried storage hall protected by a damaged formation.
A group of crystal antelopes drinking near a green lake.
An ancient iron-shell turtle sleeping beside an earth vein mound.
The eagles continued spreading.
More locations appeared.
Fang Ming opened his eyes.
"Bian Si Xuan, northwest. Three damaged formation halls. Take the formation cores, pillars, and anything made from jade foundation stone. Use Heavy Lifting Gu if the structures are too large."
"Yes."
Fairy Bian Si Xuan turned and flew away immediately.
"Fen Meng, west. Fire marrow spring and golden-maned jade lion den. Capture what can be captured. Kill what wastes too much time. The spring must be taken."
Fairy Fen Meng smiled. "Understood."
"Fairy Huang Sha, east. Blue pearl lake, shell Gu nests, spirit pearl fish. Those are trade resources. Preserve the living groups if possible."
Fairy Huang Sha nodded. "I will handle it carefully."
"Fairy Qing Suo, south. Jade reed marsh and Gu nests. The plants are delicate. Take the roots and pool mud together. Do not just cut the surface."
Fairy Qing Suo answered softly, "Yes."
Fang Ming looked at all of them.
"Do not fight ancient desolate beasts alone. If a formation changes, retreat first and report. Use Ironclad only when necessary. We are here to rob, not to prove courage."
The four Gu Immortals split apart.
They did not scatter randomly.
They moved toward assigned targets.
The eagles above them continued sending information, guiding their routes, warning them of beasts, and marking richer resource points.
This was not the usual demonic path looting.
This was organized harvesting.
Fairy Bian Si Xuan reached the northwest first.
Three formation halls stood beside a long pool. Their roofs had cracked, and several defensive formations still operated weakly. Without Gu Immortal control, they attacked anything that came near, but the rhythm was stiff.
Bian Si Xuan observed for a moment, then activated Heavy Lifting Gu.
Her aura surged.
A stone pillar covered in formation markings trembled, then rose from the ground with a deep rumble. The surrounding formation flickered violently.
Several beams of jade light shot toward her.
An Ironclad tattoo on her arm glowed faintly, but she did not activate it.
She dodged sideways, threw out several mortal Gu, and cut the connection between the pillar and the formation base.
The entire hall shook.
"Good material."
She stored the pillar away.
Then she moved to the next one.
Fairy Fen Meng arrived at the fire marrow spring.
The spring was hidden between black rocks. Red water bubbled upward, releasing hot vapor. Around it lay several fire-striped tigers, their bodies large as houses, their claws leaving melted marks on the stone.
One desolate beast jade flame tiger raised its head.
It roared.
The nearby rocks cracked.
Fairy Fen Meng's expression did not change.
Inner Strength Qi Immortal Gu activated.
Her body seemed to become lighter and heavier at the same time. Qi flowed through her limbs like invisible muscles. The first tiger pounced, and she met it head-on with a punch.
Boom!
The tiger was knocked sideways, smashing into the ground.
The other tigers roared and surrounded her.
Fairy Fen Meng laughed softly.
"Come then."
She did not need to kill them all.
Fang Ming wanted useful beasts.
A living desolate beast was often more valuable than a corpse.
On the eastern side, Fairy Huang Sha stood above the blue pearl lake.
The lake was beautiful, deep blue with countless small lights below the surface. Spirit pearl fish swam in groups, and shell Gu nests clung to underwater rocks like white flowers.
She did not attack.
She took out mortal Gu and began sealing sections of the lake.
Trade resources had to be preserved.
If handled badly, fish groups would scatter, Gu nests would collapse, and the value would fall sharply.
Fairy Huang Sha had managed market matters before. She understood that some resources were not taken by brute force.
A complete breeding environment was worth more than a pile of dead fish.
She directed mortal Gu into the water, separating the lake into layers before moving whole sections of water, mud, fish, and nests into prepared storage methods.
Farther south, Fairy Qing Suo entered the jade reed marsh.
The reeds were tall, green, and sharp at the edges. When wind blew, they released thin arcs of water blade energy. Many mortal Gu hid inside the reeds, feeding on the water path aura.
Fairy Qing Suo landed lightly on a reed tip.
Below her, the marsh water moved.
A white horn water serpent rose silently, opening its mouth.
Before it could strike, vines shot out from Fairy Qing Suo's sleeves and wrapped around its horn, neck, and body.
The serpent thrashed.
The marsh exploded with water.
Fairy Qing Suo's face paled slightly, but she did not retreat. She threw down several Gu worms, forming a temporary restraining net.
"Supreme leader, desolate beast white horn water serpent found in the jade reed marsh," she reported.
Fang Ming's reply came quickly.
"Capture if possible. If it delays you more than thirty breaths, cut the horn and abandon the body."
Fairy Qing Suo's gaze sharpened.
"Yes."
At the center of the blessed land, Fang Ming moved alone.
He followed the silver crown desolate eagle's report toward a mountain pool.
The pool was surrounded by white stone, and its water reflected the sky like a mirror. Around it grew moon water lotuses, each petal carrying faint immortal material aura.
But the true value was not the lotuses.
It was beneath the pool.
The silver crown desolate eagle had seen a pulse of light below the water.
Fang Ming stood at the pool edge.
A golden-maned jade lion walked out from the nearby forest. Its body was muscular, its mane looked like carved gold, and its eyes were green like cold jade.
Desolate beast.
Behind it, two smaller jade lions appeared.
Fang Ming smiled.
"Good."
The jade lion roared and charged.
Fang Ming activated strength path methods. His body shot forward, meeting the lion directly. Fist struck claw. The ground split beneath them.
The two smaller jade lions circled from the sides.
Golden Specters Gu stirred.
Three armored clones appeared beside Fang Ming and intercepted them.
The main jade lion bit toward Fang Ming's shoulder. Fang Ming stepped in instead of retreating, one hand grabbing its mane while the other smashed into its neck.
Boom!
The jade lion was forced down.
It struggled fiercely, but Fang Ming's strength pressed it into the ground inch by inch.
He did not kill it.
Desolate beasts were useful.
His aperture had room.
His enslavement path foundation was developing.
His future Free Market also needed rare beasts as display, trade goods, or breeding stock.
A dead beast was immediate material.
A living beast was long-term value.
Chains formed from mortal Gu flew out and wrapped around the jade lion. Fang Ming suppressed it again, then stored it into his aperture.
The two smaller jade lions were also restrained by the armored clones.
At that moment, an eagle's vision flashed in Fang Ming's mind.
A half-buried storage hall.
A damaged restriction.
No active Gu Immortal aura.
Fang Ming's eyes moved.
He sent a message to Bian Si Xuan.
"After the formation halls, go southeast. Storage hall under broken hill. Take only sealed containers first. Leave bulky decorations."
Then he sent another message to Fairy Huang Sha.
"After blue pearl lake, move to the green scale fish pool north of you. Preserve the water."
Then to Fairy Fen Meng.
"Do not chase the fleeing fire tigers too far. Take the spring core first."
Then to Fairy Qing Suo.
"After jade reed marsh, collect moon shadow moss from the nearby cave. Eagles marked the entrance."
Commands flowed one after another.
Above the blessed land, eagles continued circling.
Below, Fang Ming's Gu Immortals moved like knives cutting into different parts of Dong Fang tribe's foundation.
At the fire marrow spring, Fairy Fen Meng finally subdued the jade flame tiger. Two others were injured and forced into retreat. She did not chase them. Following Fang Ming's order, she struck the spring base, extracted the fire marrow stone, and sealed the spring water into storage Gu.
At the blue pearl lake, Fairy Huang Sha successfully lifted a whole section of the lake environment. Pearl fish, shell Gu nests, aquatic grass, and lake mud were taken together.
At the formation halls, Bian Si Xuan tore out the third jade pillar. The hall behind her collapsed, but the valuable parts were already gone.
At the jade reed marsh, Fairy Qing Suo failed to capture the white horn water serpent within thirty breaths. Her eyes turned cold. A vine blade flashed, cutting off the serpent's horn. The serpent dove into the marsh and fled, leaving blood behind.
Fairy Qing Suo did not chase.
She collected the horn and began removing the reed roots.
Time was more valuable than pride.
Outside Jade Pool blessed land, the tyrannical armored clones blocked the first wave of looters.
The demonic Gu Immortals who arrived later were furious.
Some attacked.
Some waited.
Some tried to find another entrance.
But Fang Ming had entered first, closed the gap, and left behind hundreds of clones that were not afraid of death.
The clones did not need to win.
They only needed to delay.
Every moment they delayed was another pool emptied, another beast captured, another formation core removed, another storage hall opened.
Inside, Fang Ming reached the half-buried storage hall before Bian Si Xuan.
The hall was protected by a cracked restriction. Without the Dong Fang tribe Gu Immortals maintaining it, the formation reacted slowly.
Fang Ming punched through the outer wall.
The restriction flashed.
A beam of gray light struck him.
Ironclad did not activate. Fang Ming used his own defensive methods and forced through it.
Inside were rows of jade boxes, sealed jars, and stone cabinets.
He swept them with inspection Gu.
Most contained mortal materials.
Some contained immortal materials.
A few gave off mixed auras that suggested Gu recipes, resource records, or storage ledgers.
Fang Ming did not examine them in detail.
He took everything sealed.
The decorations, furniture, and low-value outer goods could remain.
He was first, but he was not foolish enough to waste time counting beads while gold lay deeper inside.
Bian Si Xuan arrived moments later.
Fang Ming pointed to the rear. "The stone cabinets are connected to the floor. Use Heavy Lifting Gu. Take the whole section."
Bian Si Xuan nodded.
The ground trembled.
A large piece of the storage hall floor was lifted directly, cabinets and all.
Fang Ming flew out again.
Another eagle report arrived.
Ancient desolate beast aura.
Near an earth vein jade mound.
Fang Ming narrowed his eyes.
Ancient desolate beasts were not easy to handle. Fighting one could waste too much time, and the noise might damage the surrounding resources.
He checked the eagle vision carefully.
An iron-shell turtle slept beside the mound. Its aura was ancient and heavy, but it was not moving. Around it grew earth vein jade crystals.
Fang Ming made a decision quickly.
"Do not disturb the turtle. Mark the outer crystals. Take only the loose veins."
He sent the order to Bian Si Xuan and changed direction.
The deeper parts of Jade Pool blessed land still had stronger formations and more dangerous beasts. They did not need to swallow everything in one breath.
First take what was easy.
Then take what was valuable.
Then take what others would not have time to understand.
This was how one robbed efficiently.
Fang Ming arrived at a quiet valley.
White mist filled the valley, and a small pool rested at the center. The pool water was pale like milk under moonlight.
Moon milk cave pool.
The liquid could nourish certain Gu worms, stabilize delicate resource environments, and act as a refinement material.
Around the pool grew moon-pattern flowers. Their petals opened and closed slowly, breathing in the mist.
A group of crystal antelopes guarded the valley.
They raised their heads as Fang Ming entered.
Their horns shone.
Light gathered.
Dozens of beams shot toward Fang Ming.
He waved his hand.
Strength path force exploded, smashing the beams apart.
The silver crown desolate eagle descended from above, its claws grabbing one antelope and throwing it aside. Fang Ming rushed forward, suppressing the herd with brutal efficiency.
He captured the leader alive.
The rest scattered.
Fang Ming did not chase all of them.
He took the moon milk water, the flowers, the pool mud, and several crystal antelope horns. Then he marked the remaining herd location for later if time allowed.
Reports continued coming in.
More pools.
More nests.
More beasts.
More storage zones.
Jade Pool blessed land was too rich.
Even with several Gu Immortals working at once, they could only take a portion.
But this portion was the first portion.
The best portion.
The portion chosen by scouting eagles and Fang Ming's judgment before other looters even stepped inside.
Fang Ming stood above the emptied moon milk cave pool and looked into the distance.
In the sky, his eagles circled like dark marks over Dong Fang tribe's foundation.
One by one, they sent back new locations.
A jade scale fish breeding lake.
A bone lotus pond.
A thunder reed island.
A hidden Gu nest beneath a waterfall.
A beast egg cave guarded by fire cloud cranes.
Fang Ming's eyes grew brighter.
Outside, other Gu Immortals were still struggling to enter.
At the inheritance battlefield, Dong Fang Chang Fan was fighting for rebirth.
But here, in Jade Pool blessed land, Fang Ming had already begun cutting away the flesh of Dong Fang tribe.
He sent out another set of orders.
"Bian Si Xuan, storage hall complete, move to the earth vein jade mound."
"Fen Meng, fire marrow spring complete, move north to the beast egg cave. Avoid killing the fire cloud cranes if possible."
"Huang Sha, after green scale fish pool, go to the thunder reed island. Take the reed roots and water together."
"Qing Suo, moon shadow moss complete, move toward the hidden waterfall Gu nest. I will send eagles to guide you."
The replies came one after another.
Fang Ming smiled faintly; the harvest was richer than he had expected.