As the Eggmen delivered what should have been the final killing blow, Fang Zheng did not perish. Instead, the scene shifted instantly. He found himself standing in the center of a grand, spacious hall, his body completely healed of all injuries.
Sitting directly before him was a massive tortoise. It was as large as a house, covered by a thick, heavy jade shell. Its legs were as stout as elephant trunks, and two long dragon whiskers trailed from its snout. It looked old, wise, and mysterious.
"Human," the creature rumbled. "I have saved your life."
"Are you... the Ba Gui Land Spirit?" Fang Zheng asked, slowly rising to his feet.
"Indeed I am," the Land Spirit replied, slightly shocked that this mortal knew what it was.
The Ba Gui blessed land had originally belonged to an ancient Strength Path Gu Immortal.
After his death, the blessed land fell to San Cha mountain. Over eons, it suffered through endless tribulations and calamities, eventually shrinking to a mere remnant of its former glory. A structural loophole had once allowed three mortal children to enter, who eventually grew up to become the Three Kings whose inheritances were now being fought over. However, the spoils the mortal Gu Masters were currently slaughtering each other for at behest of the Three Kings were mere crumbs compared to the true treasure hidden deep within.
"You want my help in refining an Immortal Gu, don't you?" Fang Zheng asked directly.
"Yes. How do you know all of this?" the Ba Gui Land Spirit asked, utterly perplexed.
"My elder brother is a Gu Immortal, and he discovered the true secret of this inheritance long ago," Fang Zheng explained. "He wanted me to give you this."
Fang Zheng retrieved two gu worms from his aperture - Connecting Heaven Gu and Divine Sense Gu, which allowed communication with Yellow Treasure Heaven.
"He said that if you use this, he can communicate with you directly and assist in refining the Immortal Gu," Fang Zheng explained. He also handed the land spirit an information-type gu worm containing a message from Fang Yuan.
"This is... Connecting Heaven Gu and Divine Sense Gu," the Ba Gui Land Spirit muttered, accepting the gu worm. "A way to connect to Yellow Treasure Heaven. But what exactly is this Yellow Treasure Heaven?"
The Ba Gui Blessed Land had been formed in the Olden Antiquity Era, long before Yellow Treasure Heaven had been established. Thus, the Land Spirit had no inherent concept of it. Upon activating the gu, however, the Land Spirit quickly processed the information on Yellow Treasure Heaven, understanding how it functioned and what could be accomplished using this.
"I see. Immortal Essence Stones... they can be used to substitute for Immortal Essence! Excellent. And this is your brother?"
A Will reached through to him via the connection, identifying itself as Gu Yue Fang Yuan and displaying a portrait. The face was identical to the young man standing before the Land Spirit.
Likewise, a portion of Fang Yuan's Will that had been hidden within Fang Zheng's aperture emerged, and spoke with this other Will, confirming that this was Fang Yuan and not some imposter.
"Indeed," Fang Zheng confirmed.
"If you wish, we can trade via Yellow Treasure Heaven," Fang Yuan's divine will spoke directly through the channel. "Alternatively, you can use these."
Several Space Path gu worms flew out of Fang Zheng's aperture alongside an information-type gu worm. The Land Spirit scanned it quickly.
"I see... a method for connecting two blessed lands... truly profound..." the Ba Gui Land Spirit noted.
Currently, Fang Yuan was an Immortal with a massive aperture. The Ba Gui Blessed Land was a fragile fragment of its former self; originally spanning over several thousands of square kilometers, but now only a tiny sliver remained. If Fang Yuan attempted to physically enter, it would be like forcing an elephant into a matchbox - this fragile blessed land would instantly detonate, unable to contain him.
However, Fang Yuan had several workarounds. He could send a surrogate - Fang Zheng - and by utilizing a method derived from Thieving Heaven Demonic Venerable, he could link their blessed lands together.
For this to work, Fang Yuan had to be geographically close to the site in the real world. He traveled near San Cha Mountain, placing his immortal aperture onto the ground while leaving a Will behind to keep Gu Yue Village secure. As a requirement to use this move it also required the land spirit to agree to this exchange; Fang Yuan could not force his way in.
Thieving Heaven Demonic Venerable had made this move in order to sneak into other people's blessed lands and steal things. The more powerful version of this move did not have the restrictions that this one did - but Fang Yuan only had this mortal killer move and no Immortal Space Path Gu, so he could only work within these restrictions. Once again, this was likely deliberate as Thieving Heaven didn't want to hand over methods that were too powerful to Fang Yuan when it came to stealing things.
Once in position, Fang Zheng and the Land Spirit would need to simultaneously activate specific Space Path gu worms, opening a spatial portal between the two apertures to freely exchange items and other materials.
However, Fang Yuan would still be restricted from entering physically, and the Land Spirit could not leave its land either.
"For now," the Ba Gui Land Spirit stated guardedly, "I will decline this connection offer."
It was naturally wary of any external force. If Fang Yuan connected his blessed land to Ba Gui, the Land Spirit feared a full-scale takeover before Fang Zheng was formally established as the inheritor.
"So be it. We shall trade through Yellow Treasure Heaven instead," Fang Yuan agreed smoothly.
The Land Spirit offered a rock from the hall's floor as a token item, and in return, Fang Yuan transferred twelve Immortal Essence Stones across Yellow Treasure Heaven.
"Wonderful!" the Land Spirit exclaimed. "This will dramatically increase our odds of refining the Immortal Gu!"
"Which Immortal Gu are we refining?" Fang Zheng asked, walking alongside the Land Spirit toward the far end of the hall.
The corridor was lined with thousands of Rank 4 gu worms and over eighty Rank 5 gu worms. But the true treasure waited at the far end: a containment seal dissolved, revealing a floating gu worm. It seemed almost like formless smoke taking the shape of a racehorse once, then a lightning bolt, and then a leopard. A rich, deep purple smoke surrounded it and the heavy scent of fine alcohol wafted through the air. Fang Zheng felt lightheaded and intoxicated simply standing near its fumes and instinctively backed away.
It radiated a distinct immortal aura - a Rank 6 gu worm: Divine Travel Gu! A legendary Gu worm from The Legends of Ren Zu, said to possess the power to transport a person anywhere in the world at random.
"And what will we be refining with it?" Fang Zheng inquired.
"We will be refining Second Aperture Gu," the Ba Gui Land Spirit declared.
The original strength path Gu Immortal who owned the Ba Gui Blessed Land had died with a single remaining obsession: to refine the Second Aperture Gu.
The core requirement to become his true inheritor was to complete this refinement. However, not just anyone could be chosen; he wanted a Strength Path Gu Master to carry out the ritual. A Strength Path Gu Master near his death; just like the original owner was.
Fang Zheng's path and actions had perfectly fulfilled those conditions. He had also drastically accelerated the development of the Three Kings Inheritance through various methods. He had leaked information on the trials to the Shang Clan. He had also made it so that many top-tier talents from across the Southern Border were now swarming toward San Cha Mountain. As an example, Mo Wu Tian and the Empress Wu Ji had never shown up to San Cha Mountain in Fang Yuan's previously life, but both had arrived because of Fang Zheng's actions.
'Hold on,' Fang Yuan's will interjected through Yellow Treasure Heaven. 'My brother will require substantial assistance to complete a Rank 6 refinement. If you send the materials to me including Divine Travel Gu, I can refine it myself within my own blessed land. I am a Gu Immortal and have a far higher probability of success.'
The Land Spirit shook its head firmly. "That is something I simply cannot allow."
Fang Yuan had not expected the Land Spirit to agree, but it was worth a shot.
"In that case," Fang Yuan said smoothly, "accept this assistance, Sir Land Spirit."