Hei Lou Lan let out a dissatisfied snort. "Fang Yuan, you truly don't understand… Dong Fang Chang Fan has already deduced many things about us, just as I told you before. It won't be long before he uncovers even more. Who knows how much time we have left before we're exposed?"
Fang Yuan laughed inwardly. In his previous life, Hei Lou Lan had been able to pressure him using Wisdom Gu and several other advantages. But now, she was far too weak and possessed no attractive bargaining chip.
Tai Bai Yun Sheng, however, was unaware of this. Believing they should pressure Hei Lou Lan further, he said, "Hei Lou Lan, you're currently inside Hu Immortal Blessed Land. With a single move from either of us, you'll die with no chance of escape. It seems you're the one who doesn't understand!"
Hei Lou Lan laughed fearlessly. "Hahaha! Even if this were a mountain harboring a tiger, I wouldn't be afraid! Let me tell you this—I made arrangements before coming here. If I don't return within three days, all of Northern Plains, no, the entire world, will learn that you two brothers were the ones who destroyed Eighty-Eight True Yang Building, and that the Luck Path inheritance and the Immortal Gu from Eighty-Eight True Yang Building are in your possession!"
Tai Bai Yun Sheng's expression instantly froze.
He stared blankly at Hei Lou Lan, who looked back at them with a fierce expression.
Fang Yuan chuckled at the scene Hei Lou Lan was putting on.
"Hei Lou Lan, I know you're not afraid of death. But what about your vengeance… and your hatred?"
The fierceness surrounding Hei Lou Lan immediately diminished. Her eyes flashed like lightning toward Fang Yuan.
"…What are your conditions?"
Fang Yuan raised four fingers toward Hei Lou Lan.
"First, you must return Fixed Immortal Travel to me."
"Second, after we begin cooperating, all profits will be divided sixty-forty. Sixty percent for Tai Bai Yun Sheng and me, forty percent for you. After all, Tai Bai Yun Sheng and I are Gu Immortals."
Hei Lou Lan snorted in dissatisfaction.
"It's not as though you're anything special. Do you think you're the only one with assistance? How about this? Whenever we carry out revenge, the spoils will be divided sixty-forty in your favor. Don't be too greedy."
Fang Yuan shook his head.
"That price is already extremely cheap compared to the value Tai Bai Yun Sheng and I provide. For example, if a battle breaks out, we can immediately reinforce you through Fixed Immortal Travel."
Hei Lou Lan refused and continued arguing with Fang Yuan, bringing out every argument she could think of.
Yet every one of her arguments was mercilessly "beaten down" by Fang Yuan's words.
Even so, she stubbornly continued arguing. Only after an entire hour did they finally settle on the following terms.
If Hei Lou Lan successfully advanced to Gu Immortal, then all spoils would belong to Fang Yuan and Tai Bai Yun Sheng.
Whenever either side requested assistance, the gains would be divided sixty-forty between the assisting party and the one requesting help respectively. This ratio could be adjusted depending on the level of danger involved.
"Third, you mentioned having a supporter. I need to know who my allies are before cooperating with them, and whether they're trustworthy."
"As for the fourth condition, I have a new project with guaranteed profits, but it requires capital. I'm currently looking for investors. Both you and your supporter must invest in it."
Hei Lou Lan pondered for a moment before nodding.
"No problem. Honestly, I find all of your conditions acceptable… which is exactly what makes you suspicious."
Afterward, Hei Lou Lan began recounting her story.
Fang Yuan had already heard it in his previous life, but he decided it would do no harm to listen again in order to maintain appearances.
In short, while he was young, Hei Cheng had discovered a life-extension method within Eighty-Eight True Yang Building called the Yin-Yang Life Extension Method.
The method required a male and female Gu Immortal to cooperate. It transferred the lifespan of one Gu Immortal to the other.
However, the method was extremely impractical, because every time it was used, the Gu Immortal had to find a new partner.
Thus, Hei Cheng killed Su Xian Er and absorbed her lifespan.
Afterward, he set his sights on their daughter, Hei Lou Lan, intending to use the same life-extension method on her and consume her lifespan once she became a Gu Immortal.
Fortunately, before her death, Su Xian Er revealed the truth to Hei Lou Lan.
From that moment onward, Hei Lou Lan had planned to become a Gu Immortal and personally take revenge upon Hei Cheng.
Tai Bai Yun Sheng shook his head in disbelief.
"To think Lord Hei Cheng was actually such a person… What a disappointment."
Hei Lou Lan sneered upon hearing this.
"The righteous path, huh?… Time and time again, those who appear the most righteous on the surface are the vilest and most disgusting beneath that glorious facade."
Fang Yuan neither spoke nor paid attention to the discussion between Hei Lou Lan and Tai Bai Yun Sheng.
Instead, he was contemplating his plans for the near future.
"It seems I'll have to postpone developing my immortal aperture and delay my trip to Lang Ya Blessed Land for a while."
Fang Yuan had not expected Hei Lou Lan to arrive this early.
She had come much earlier than she had in his previous life, forcing him to alter his plans.
Still, he needed both her and Fairy Li Shan to begin the Guts Gu business and to obtain more information regarding Northern Plains.
"So, shall we go meet this supporter of yours now?"
Fang Yuan spoke to Hei Lou Lan while motioning for Tai Bai Yun Sheng to come closer.
Hei Lou Lan stared at him for a moment before walking over and waiting beside him.
However, Fang Yuan made no move to open his immortal aperture.
Hei Lou Lan frowned.
"When are you planning to open your immortal aperture? You do know Fixed Immortal Travel can only transport one person, right?"
Fang Yuan laughed.
At the same time, an intricate aura surged from his body, causing Hei Lou Lan to instinctively retreat several steps.
"What? Are you scared?"
"I'm merely using an immortal killer move to transport all of us at once!"
Hei Lou Lan nearly cursed aloud before walking back beside Fang Yuan and Tai Bai Yun Sheng.
At the same time, Fang Yuan shouted inwardly.
Immortal Killer Move—Heaven and Earth Travel!
A dazzling jade-colored light erupted, illuminating everything within a hundred-meter radius before disappearing a few seconds later.
At the same time, the three of them vanished from Hu Immortal Blessed Land.
Inside a room atop one of the snow-covered peaks—
A woman sat beside the window.
She wore a flower-embroidered leather skirt, the traditional attire of Northern Plains women.
Her eyes were lowered, making her long eyelashes especially prominent. Her breathing was gentle and calm, bringing peace to anyone who heard it.
The woman focused on preparing tea while quietly waiting for her guests to arrive.
Moments later, a blinding jade-colored flash filled the room.
Fang Yuan, Tai Bai Yun Sheng, and Hei Lou Lan appeared simultaneously.
Fairy Li Shan turned her head in surprise.
At that very moment, she heard a hoarse, icy voice.
"Fairy Li Shan?… Hah, Hei Lou Lan, you're truly fortunate to have obtained the support of the Third Peak Lord of Snowy Mountain Blessed Land."
Fang Yuan was currently wearing his zombie form like a second layer of skin, making both his appearance and voice incomparably rigid and terrifying.
Fairy Li Shan carefully examined Fang Yuan, then Tai Bai Yun Sheng, and finally Hei Lou Lan.
A warm smile gradually appeared on her face.
Nevertheless, she first greeted Tai Bai Yun Sheng and Fang Yuan with proper courtesy.
"You must be Fang Yuan."
Fairy Li Shan pointed toward Fang Yuan without displaying the slightest disgust at his frightening appearance.
She then looked toward Tai Bai Yun Sheng.
"And you are Tai Bai Yun Sheng."
"This junior greets Fairy Li Shan."
Fairy Li Shan turned her attention back to Fang Yuan, observing him more carefully before speaking.
"The tea is almost ready. Why don't you all have a seat?… Little Lan, come here and sit beside me."