Mount Ju Xian was still as vibrant as Fang Tian remembered. Long arrow trees spread across the entire mountain like a natural canopy covering its earthen surface. Meanwhile, the mountain peak rose more than ten thousand feet high, piercing through the cloud barrier and disappearing beyond it.
Fang Tian remained at the foot of the mountain's rear slope and had not yet entered Mount Ju Xian. The reason for his caution was the ongoing war between the Yan Zu clan and the Yin clan within the mountain.
He activated Begging Basil Gu. Several basil plants sprouted from his head, allowing him to borrow the senses of plants within a radius of fifteen li.
Begging Basil Gu was a Wood Path Gu worm used for investigation by borrowing plant senses and vaguely perceiving the surrounding environment. When paired with Tree Senses Gu, it could greatly enhance these perceptions. Combined with the amplification of Dao marks from his extreme physique and rank five Wood Origin Gu, the effect was remarkable.
This effect surpassed most rank five Gu worms. It saved Fang Tian considerable time; he only needed to move around the mountain's base to understand the entire situation.
"The difference between rank three and rank four is truly enormous. Every small realm within rank four makes a huge difference in battle strength. One could say peak rank four and initial stage rank four are practically different realms."
The sudden leap in strength had shocked Fang Tian. It took him two months of battling various beasts within the Ancient Strength Blessed Land before he fully adapted to his new power.
He fought ferocious birds and various beasts—those that roamed the land, swam in water, and soared through the sky. All of them possessed rank four battle strength, making the battles fruitful. Any mistake on Fang Tian's part meant a painful injury.
After all that hardship, he finally adapted to his immense power and his Strength Path Gu worms. As for Wood Path, he required no adjustment. With master attainment in Wood Path, he could vaguely grasp a Gu worm's usage and function without even activating it.
Thus, Fang Tian possessed two sets of Gu worms—one for the Strength Path and the other for the Wood Path. The interference between Wood Path dao marks slightly weakened his Strength Path Gu worms, but it remained within an acceptable range.
"I wonder if Ancient Strength Blessed Land survived the battle… The land spirit sent me a message Before I ran and said that I should not be worried since it possesses the killer move Strength Extraction Body."
Fang Tian only knew the power of this killer move in theory and had never seen it himself, so he was not certain.
"I'm very worried about the blessed land. After all, it's one of the few paths I have toward becoming immortal… Ah, I hope the land spirit sends me a message as soon as it finishes."
He forced himself to focus on the current situation instead of worrying about the land spirit. Overthinking would solve nothing.
"The situation at Mount Ju Xian, based on my investigation, is troubling. Yan Zu clan leader and his members are hiding and waging guerrilla warfare against the Yin clan, which outnumbers them and is inflicting heavy losses… There's also a rank five initial stage clan leader. I can avoid him, but if he detects me, it will cause a huge commotion if a peak rank four Gu Master reveals himself like this."
"The Yin clan also controls the former Yan Zu village and all its subordinate human villages. That falls within the detection range of a rank five Gu Master, meaning Li Hua's inheritance near Yan Zu village is under surveillance… But if I can reach the third hall, I'll be concealed."
After merging with Li Hua's will memories, Fang Tian gained much of her cultivation knowledge and the inheritance plans she had designed. However, those memories were incomplete, making them less reliable. Nevertheless, they held significant reference value for understanding her intentions, thought process, and even analyzing her inheritance trials.
When night fell and the stars filled the black sky, the hidden battles between the Yan Zu clan and the Yin clan resumed. At that moment, Fang Tian decided to enter Mount Ju Xian and seize the inheritance completely.
"Leaf Concealment Gu! Soul Concealment Gu! Grass Skirt Gu!"
Fang Tian activated two rank four Gu worms to conceal his aura and infiltrate Mount Ju Xian undetected. He also activated Grass Skirt Gu, which specialized in increasing primordial essence recovery speed.
Grass Skirt Gu could be considered a cheap version of Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus Gu. But there was no helping it—Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus Gu was rare, and none existed in Treasure Yellow Heaven. Immortal Gu Masters did not need its mortal version, and there was only a single Immortal Gu of Imperial Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus capable of generating immortal essence—and that Immortal Gu was in the possession of the land spirit of Lang Ya Blessed Land.
"But this will suffice to sustain my rank four Gu worms. My primordial essence recovery speed has greatly increased, though it cannot compare to Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus Gu. With prolonged usage, my primordial essence still slowly declines."
The grass skirt swayed as Fang Tian moved using a movement Gu worm, drawing close to Yan Zu village. However, he had to maintain a distance from Gu Masters within his detection range. This wasted much time, and it took him a full hour to reach the rocky fissure in the mountain.
He looked at the rocky fissure with deep nostalgia, but the moment did not last.
From within the cave, powerful tremors reverberated through the rocks and outward. Naturally, this drew Fang Tian's attention as he stood at the inheritance cave entrance.
"Damn it! They've already found the inheritance cave!"
Fang Tian used several investigative methods within the inheritance cave and saw four Gu Masters battling Dragon Canopy Beasts. These Gu Masters were all rank three, but the large number of Dragon Canopy Beasts was enough to balance the fight.
Fang Tian no longer held back and released his aura as he rushed into the cave. He leaped past the fissure that had once led him to the spirit spring where he awakened his aperture and became a Gu Master. He passed the stone he once called his dwelling, paused briefly in that chamber, then continued onward.
When he reached the entrance of the second hall, all the rank three Gu Masters turned and looked at him in terror.
Among them was a woman Fang Tian found familiar, along with two young Gu Masters he had met before.
The woman had snow-white skin and dark eye shadows beneath her eyes that gave her a mysterious aura. Her black robes fluttered in the air, making her appear both enchanting and enigmatic. Beside her stood three young Gu Masters, two of whom Fang Tian recognized.
"You! How is this possible?!"
Elder Mo Ling pointed at Fang Tian in disbelief, recalling a face from one of her unpleasant memories. Her hatred toward Fang Tian was immense—he had caused her great trouble and humiliated her by escaping.
But he had only been in peak rank two at the time. How could he now be peak rank four in less than a year? Even she had only reached peak rank three after a year of hard work!
This defied common sense!
"You! You're the one who killed Luo Xin and escaped from me! But you were rank two back then—how could you—?!"
Mo Ling could not finish speaking. Fang Tian punched the air without using any Gu worm. The air exploded with overwhelming force, striking Mo Ling and sending her flying!
The other Gu Masters attempted to defend against Fang Tian, but it was futile. He extended his hands and unleashed a river of pine that flooded the entire inheritance cave. The Gu Masters drowned within the river of pine, instantly suppressed and unable to move!
Fang Tian lifted Mo Ling, whose bones were shattered like a broken doll, and shook her mockingly.
"To be honest, I don't even know your name. But you left a deep impression on me. After all, you were among the first people I met after leaving Mount Ju Xian. I didn't expect to meet you again upon my return."
Mo Ling tried to speak—perhaps she wanted to beg? But Fang Tian casually snapped her neck and tossed her corpse aside after seizing her soul. The other rank three Gu Masters died helplessly under his power.
Fang Tian turned his gaze toward the enormous tree standing at the center of the inheritance hall and smiled sincerely.