Chapter 193: Calamity Beckoning
Fair Market was not large yet.
Compared to the old merchant islands of Eastern Sea, it was still young. The trade paths were not mature, the reputation had only started spreading, and most of the buyers who came here were low-level Gu Masters or small forces testing the waters.
But it was already alive.
On the white stone platforms, mortal Gu Masters moved between stalls. Some carried beast materials, some carried Gu recipes, and some came only to look around. Eagle Sect Gu Masters maintained order nearby, their expressions calm but their eyes sharp. Above the market, eagles circled slowly, casting moving shadows over the sea.
Fang Ming stood in a private hall above the market.
The hall was not luxurious, but it was quiet. Through the window, he could see the distant blue sea and the small trading grounds below.
A moment later, space fluctuated.
Fang Yuan appeared inside the hall.
He wore a calm expression. His black eyes were deep, and his aura was restrained. If one ignored the faint pressure hidden behind that calmness, he looked no different from before.
Fang Ming smiled.
"Fang Yuan, you contacted me so urgently. It seems this trade is not small."
Fang Yuan looked at him.
The two men faced each other silently for a brief moment.
Fang Yuan remembered the previous timeline.
That formation. That sealed battlefield. Those Eagle Sect Gu Immortals trapped together with him. That massive reserve of immortal essence stones used to bury all witnesses. Fang Ming's methods had been ruthless and direct, without even the slightest hesitation.
And Fang Ming, who had no memories of that timeline, also looked at Fang Yuan carefully.
Sovereign Immortal Fetus Gu had appeared in his virtual refinement space. That fact alone meant Fang Yuan had most likely rebirthed. But Fang Ming did not know how much Fang Yuan had seen, which methods had been exposed, or what Fang Yuan thought he knew.
Both sides smiled naturally.
Neither smile reached the heart.
Fang Yuan sat down first. "Since I came here, naturally I brought sincerity."
He opened his palm.
A Gu worm appeared.
Its aura immediately filled the hall.
This was a rank seven Immortal Gu.
Its body looked strange, as if formed from gray clouds and dark lightning. Around it, traces of luck path aura twisted faintly, like calamities gathering in the invisible world. Just looking at it gave one the feeling that disaster could be drawn, shifted, and guided.
Fang Ming's eyes moved slightly.
"Calamity Beckoning Immortal Gu."
Fang Yuan nodded. "Rank seven luck path Immortal Gu."
Fang Ming leaned back slightly. "A rank seven Immortal Gu as soon as you sit down. Your sincerity is indeed not small."
"I want a Gu from you," Fang Yuan said.
"Oh?" Fang Ming smiled. "Which Gu?"
"Dream Garment."
The hall became quiet.
Fang Ming's expression did not change.
His fingers tapped the armrest once, lightly and naturally. His smile remained the same, as if he had only heard an unfamiliar name.
"Dream Garment?" he said. "Fang Yuan, where did you hear this name?"
Fang Yuan watched his face.
Nothing.
No surprise, no panic, no hesitation.
Fang Ming's reaction was flawless.
But Fang Yuan was certain.
In the previous timeline, Fang Ming had lent him this Gu. Without that defensive dream path Immortal Gu, Ying Wu Xie's lead soul into dream would have been a nightmare to resist. If Fang Yuan wanted to return to Yi Tian Mountain and seize the greatest opportunity there, he needed protection against dream path.
He could not gamble while leaving such a fatal weakness open.
"My master told me," Fang Yuan said calmly. "Purple Mountain True Monarch."
Fang Ming's smile deepened.
Purple Mountain True Monarch.
Again this excuse.
On the surface, Fang Ming revealed a thoughtful expression, as if he believed part of it but still had doubts.
Inside, he had already rejected it completely.
Purple Mountain True Monarch was nothing more than Fang Yuan's old cover. Fang Yuan using this excuse now meant he had no better explanation. In other words, Dream Garment had truly been exposed in the previous timeline.
Where?
Fang Ming's thoughts moved quickly.
Dream Garment was a defensive dream path Immortal Gu. Its most likely use was Yi Tian Mountain. Ying Wu Xie's lead soul into dream was the key method Shadow Sect used to restrain Fang Yuan. Fang Ming knew the original events. He knew Fang Yuan meeting Star Constellation's dream had played a role in him understanding deeper truths. If in the previous timeline Fang Ming had lent Dream Garment to Fang Yuan, it was probably to block Ying Wu Xie's attack and prevent Fang Yuan from entering that dream.
That meant Dream Garment had protected Fang Yuan at a critical moment.
No wonder Fang Yuan came straight for it.
Fang Ming did not expose anything. He only said slowly, "Purple Mountain True Monarch knows quite a lot."
Fang Yuan did not continue with the excuse. He pushed Calamity Beckoning Gu forward slightly.
"Fang Ming, I am using a rank seven Immortal Gu to trade for a rank six Immortal Gu. You understand the sincerity behind this."
Fang Ming glanced at Calamity Beckoning Gu.
Fang Yuan continued, "This Gu is useful to you. Eagle Sect has many Gu Immortals now, but most of them are not strong. Tribulations are the greatest threshold for them. With Calamity Beckoning, you can help them draw calamities away and increase their chance of survival."
Fang Ming listened quietly.
Fang Yuan's tone became more persuasive.
"This is not only a favor. It can become a system. If Eagle Sect Gu Immortals know that you can help them pass calamities, their trust in you will deepen. If outsiders fear their tribulations, they can also pay you for help. Even if they are poor, they may still provide information, connections, or rare opportunities."
He paused, then added the most tempting point.
"And when you draw their calamities to yourself, the dao marks that should have been gained from those calamities will gather on you instead. Your own calamities are limited, but if you add the calamities of others, your dao mark accumulation will rise quickly."
Fang Ming's gaze finally changed.
At least outwardly, it changed.
He looked at Calamity Beckoning Gu with more interest, as if he had been moved by Fang Yuan's words.
"Interesting," Fang Ming said.
Fang Yuan watched him.
Fang Ming was acting.
Fang Yuan knew he was acting.
But Fang Yuan could not point it out. He needed Dream Garment, and Fang Ming knew how to raise the price when someone needed something.
Fang Ming reached out and lightly tapped the table.
"Calamity Beckoning is indeed valuable, but dream path Immortal Gu are extremely rare. Rank seven luck path Gu are precious, but after Eighty-Eight True Yang Building collapsed, luck path inheritances and luck path Gu are no longer impossible to find."
Fang Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly.
Fang Ming continued calmly, "If I take a dream path Immortal Gu to trade outside, there will be many people willing to pay. Some may offer a more useful rank seven Gu. Some may add immortal materials, inheritances, or other compensation."
Fang Yuan's expression darkened. "You are greedy."
Fang Ming smiled. "When trading, greed is only ugly when one has no goods."
Fang Yuan stared at him.
Fang Ming met his gaze without retreating.
The meaning was clear.
You need this Gu.
I know you need this Gu.
Pay more.
Fang Yuan felt a trace of irritation, but he suppressed it instantly.
A rank seven Immortal Gu for a rank six Immortal Gu was already a huge loss. Under normal circumstances, no sane Gu Immortal would accept such a deal. But this was not a normal trade. Dream Garment was tied to Yi Tian Mountain, Ying Wu Xie, and the rank nine Immortal Gu.
If he could obtain that prize, this loss was nothing.
If he failed because of dream path weakness, saving Calamity Beckoning would become meaningless.
Fang Yuan exhaled slowly. "What else do you want?"
Fang Ming's smile became more obvious.
"Next month, Tai Bai Yun Sheng will come to you, correct?"
Fang Yuan's face became colder. "What do you want with Tai Bai Yun Sheng?"
"Borrow Landscape as Before and Man as Before for a short time."
Fang Yuan frowned.
Fang Ming explained naturally, "An Eagle Sect Gu Immortal will undergo tribulation soon. Since you say Calamity Beckoning is so useful, I may test it. If I draw the calamity over, the aftermath may damage my aperture or injure people nearby. Landscape as Before and Man as Before will be useful for repairs."
Fang Yuan's expression turned grim.
"If you need Tai Bai Yun Sheng's help, you can hire him when the time comes. A few dozen immortal essence stones should mean nothing to you."
Fang Ming looked at him strangely.
"Why should I pay if I can borrow them for free?"
For a moment, Fang Yuan almost laughed from anger.
This man.
In the previous timeline, Fang Ming had hidden over two hundred thousand immortal essence stones inside Tyrannical Barbarian Ancient Formation just to bury witnesses. Now he was sitting here, pretending to care about a few dozen immortal essence stones.
Fang Yuan sneered inwardly.
Keep acting.
If not for my previous-life memories, I might have been fooled by you.
But on the surface, Fang Yuan remained silent.
Dream Garment was too important. Fang Ming was clearly determined to take another bite. If Fang Yuan refused, the trade might collapse. And if the trade collapsed, finding another dream path defensive Immortal Gu in time would be too difficult.
After a long silence, Fang Yuan said, "Next month, when Tai Bai Yun Sheng comes, I will borrow the two Gu and lend them to you for a short period."
Fang Ming smiled. "Good."
The two immediately established the details.
Calamity Beckoning Gu would be traded to Fang Ming.
Dream Garment defensive Immortal Gu would be handed to Fang Yuan.
Next month, Fang Yuan would arrange for Tai Bai Yun Sheng's Man as Before and Landscape as Before to be temporarily lent to Fang Ming. The time would not be long, and Fang Ming would return them after use.
The agreement was completed.
Fang Yuan took Dream Garment Gu.
The moment the dream path aura entered his possession, his heart relaxed slightly.
This Gu was the first key to returning to Yi Tian Mountain.
Fang Ming took Calamity Beckoning Gu, his expression satisfied.
To outsiders, he had traded a rank six dream path Immortal Gu for a rank seven luck path Immortal Gu and the temporary use of two more Immortal Gu next month.
But Fang Yuan did not know one thing.
When Tai Bai Yun Sheng's two Gu came into Fang Ming's hands, even briefly, Fang Ming would have a chance to copy them.
Landscape as Before.
Man as Before.
These two Gu had great value. Not only for repairs, but for future schemes, blessed land restoration, emergency recovery, business, and battlefield survival.
This trade was far more profitable than Fang Yuan realized.
After the main deal ended, Fang Ming did not immediately let Fang Yuan leave.
He seemed to think of something and spoke casually, "Since we are already trading, I have another proposal."
Fang Yuan looked at him coldly. "Say it."
"I obtained Old Lord Can Yang's fire path inheritance. You have Dong Fang Chang Fan's wisdom path inheritance. How about we exchange?"
Fang Yuan's expression immediately sank.
"Fang Ming, you have already taken advantage of me once today. Do you want to do it again?"
Fang Ming raised an eyebrow. "This is a fair inheritance exchange."
"Fair?" Fang Yuan sneered. "A fire path inheritance for Dong Fang Chang Fan's wisdom path inheritance? You truly know how to calculate."
Fang Ming smiled, not arguing.
Fang Yuan stood up. "The Dream Garment trade is complete. As for other trades, forget it."
He turned and left.
Space fluctuated again, and Fang Yuan disappeared from the hall.
The room became quiet.
Fang Ming sat there for a while, then laughed softly.
"So that is how it is."
The inheritance trade had only been a test.
If Fang Yuan had not experienced the previous timeline, Dong Fang Chang Fan's wisdom path inheritance would still have great trading value to him. Even if he refused, his reaction would have been different. But Fang Yuan's refusal came too quickly, too naturally, as if this trade no longer had value.
That meant Fang Yuan had likely already traded for similar knowledge in the previous timeline.
Fang Ming leaned back and shook his head.
It seemed he really had failed to tag along with Fang Yuan's rebirth.
This was a loss.
A necessary loss.
If Sovereign Immortal Fetus Gu had not appeared in his virtual refinement space, and if this test had failed, Fang Ming would have immediately concluded that Fang Yuan had rebirthed without him. Now, the conclusion only confirmed what he had already guessed.
Still, Calamity Beckoning Gu arriving now was outside his expectations.
It forced him to adjust his plans again.
Fang Ming looked at the gray-cloud-like Gu in his hand.
Originally, Fairy Li Shan had already started losing value.
She knew too much. She had been involved in many of his trades, movements, and arrangements. In the future, Fang Ming had considered dealing with her. One method was to guide her toward Yi Tian Mountain through Fang Yuan and let her die in the chaos. Another was to wait for the right chance and have Eagle Sect Gu Immortals ambush her.
But now, the situation changed.
Calamity Beckoning Gu could become a business.
Many weak rank six Gu Immortals feared their calamities and tribulations. These people were often poor. Some did not even have Immortal Gu. From them, Fang Ming might not earn many immortal essence stones.
But immortal essence stones were not the only gain.
There were connections.
There was information.
There were favors.
And if the target was suitable, there were dao marks.
Fairy Li Shan was experienced in dealing with this kind of network. She had reputation, connections, and the ability to reach Gu Immortals who lacked strength but still struggled to survive. If Fang Ming wanted to promote a calamity-support business, Fairy Li Shan was one of the most useful people to handle it.
For now, the plan to remove her had to be placed on hold.
Fang Ming stored Calamity Beckoning Gu away.
Then he walked to the window.
Outside, Fair Market continued operating.
Gu Masters moved between stalls. Eagles circled above the trading grounds. Waves rolled under the floating platforms, and the sea wind carried the noise of bargaining faintly upward.
This market had just started making profit.
Unfortunately, it could not stay.
After Yi Tian Mountain, Heavenly Court would not ignore him. If he left this place standing, they could come, rob it, and shut it down for him. It was better to reduce losses, reorganize resources, and sell the market for something while he still could.
If no buyer could be found, then he would close it himself.
Fang Ming's thoughts turned.
The Eastern Sea merchant alliance would definitely be interested in buying a competitor, but they would suppress the price.
Miao Ming Shen was wealthy and well-connected. Fair Market suited him greatly, but whether he had the funds ready right now was another question.
Song clan was a super force nearby. If they wanted a convenient trading foothold, they might be interested as well.
Fang Ming sent orders to several Eagle Sect Gu Immortals who had contact with these forces.
Go propose the sale.
Test their interest.
Do not reveal urgency.
After sending the orders, Fang Ming looked back at Calamity Beckoning Gu in his aperture.
Fang Yuan's words about dao marks had sounded tempting, but Fang Ming understood the flaw.
That logic was truly useful only for the sovereign immortal aperture.
Fang Ming's immortal aperture was strength path. If he used Calamity Beckoning on wood path, metal path, water path, or other-path Gu Immortals, those dao marks would gather in his aperture and interfere with his foundation. They would not strengthen him properly. In some cases, they might even create problems.
Only the sovereign immortal aperture could accept all paths without conflict.
Therefore, Calamity Beckoning Gu could not be used recklessly.
For now, it would be stored away.
Fang Ming closed the window.
The market noise became distant.
He had obtained Calamity Beckoning Gu. He had tested Fang Yuan. He had adjusted Fairy Li Shan's value. He had begun preparations to sell Fair Market.
The rest could not be rushed.
Shadow Sect had its plan.
Heavenly Court had its plan.
Fang Yuan had returned with memories and was already moving again.
Fang Ming also had his own path.
He turned away from the hall and activated Dream Feather Gu.
Mist rose around him.
The dream realm opened silently.