— — — — — — —
Days passed, and the Blessed Land continued to weaken. The expenditure of immortal essence steadily diminished, bit by bit.
Thanks to his memories and the flawless calculations of the A.I. Chip, Fang Yuan avoided countless detours and eliminated most hidden dangers that might have slowed him down or jeopardized his plans.
Of course, he left these dirty jobs to Wang Xiao.
Step by step, he executed each task with absolute precision, leaving the land spirit in awe.
"Truly incredible. You're destined to become an immortal Gu Master," the land spirit said, clearly impressed. Whether it was refining mortal Gu or working on the immortal Gu process, everything Fang Yuan did was nothing short of extraordinary.
"A.I. Chip, update the plan and provide the optimal starting point," Fang Yuan commanded, his voice calm and confident.
[Beep! Comparing with the Host body's existing memories…]
A few seconds later, the chip's calculations were complete, presenting a new conclusion.
"With the A.I. Chip guiding me, everything is perfectly aligned," Fang Yuan thought to himself. "I've rested enough and reached my peak condition. Even my 'future number one fan' Feng Tian Yu played his part in aiding the refinement."
His lips curled into a faint, knowing smile.
"Now, it's all set. I just need to wait…"
— — —
A few days later
The long-awaited day finally arrived. It was time to refine the Immortal Gu.
The day to refine the Gu and take the first real step toward greatness had finally arrived.
Over the past few days, Fang Yuan had instructed Wang Xiao to keep killing and letting the Beast Strength Placenta Gu absorb the apertures of the fallen to increase the Gu's limit.
Also, Fang Yuan made Feng Tian Yu work for him for now.
Feng Tian Yu was a renowned refinement path Gu Master from the Southern Border. Back when his cultivation was at Rank 3, he managed to refine a Rank 5 Gu. Though the Gu only lasted for half a day, it was enough to prove his extraordinary talent in the refinement path. He now is a Rank 4 refinement Gu Master.
Fang Yuan had enlisted Feng Tian Yu's help for refining the Gu. While his A.I. Chip could handle detections and simulations to determine the best steps for refinement, Fang Yuan was occupied absorbing the vast memories stored within the chip. So, he decided to have Feng Tian Yu assist until the false Gu stage.
"Amazing. You're truly incredible in the refinement path," Feng Tian Yu marveled at Fang Yuan. "You always make the right moves and avoid all the pitfalls. I feel ashamed—I used to think I was the best in this path in my generation."
Fang Yuan simply smiled while storing the false second aperture immortal Gu. "You're already amazing at refinement. I'm sure you have a bright future if you stick to this path."
Feng Tian Yu, calculating his next steps, asked, "When will we begin refining the immortal Gu officially? The final step is always the hardest. I also need to see the recipe. So far, you've only given me bits and pieces, and I've just been following your instructions."
Inwardly, Feng Tian Yu couldn't deny his desire to obtain the full recipe—or even the immortal Gu itself. While his admiration for Fang Yuan was genuine, he wasn't one to forgo benefits just for a bit of admiration.
Fang Yuan glanced up and replied coolly, "Do you know why I arranged for this hall to be separate from the main one? Not just so no one sees our refinement—but so no one sees you."
Feng Tian Yu tensed. "What do you mean?"
"Think about it. What would happen if people outside found out you were part of this refinement? Or worse, if they knew you had even a fragment of the recipe?"
A chill ran down Feng Tian Yu's spine.
"And to answer your question," Fang Yuan continued, "we won't refine the Gu. Iwill."
Feng Tian Yu opened his mouth, but no words came out. He knew Fang Yuan wouldn't hesitate to kill him if it came to that, and getting involved could just as easily lead to his death.
"I admire your talent," Fang Yuan said calmly. "That's why I'll protect you. The land spirit will teleport you to King Xin's inheritance. There, you'll find the remaining refinement path inheritance. No one will suspect you've been with me here."
"You'll gain your benefits and remain safe."
Feng Tian Yu looked at Fang Yuan, conflicted. "Can't I stay and help refine the immortal Gu? Even if I don't know the recipe, I don't want to miss this legendary opportunity."
"I'm afraid to miss the immortal refinement more than death."
Fang Yuan was impressed. "You've earned more of my respect," he said with a rare smile. "But I've made my decision. However, I'll give you a chance at something greater—a shot at immortality."
"Immortality?!" Feng Tian Yu's eyes widened with disbelief.
"Go to the Shang Clan and work for Shang Xin Ci. In a few years, you'll have your chance. Tell her I sent you—but make sure only she knows this."
"Let her know I'm sorry for deceiving her in the past, but I had no choice. Back then, I was racing against death."
"Of course," Fang Yuan added, "you could ignore all of this and not go to the Shang Clan. The choice is yours."
Feng Tian Yu nodded but hesitated. "How will this lead to immortality?"
"You'll understand in time," Fang Yuan replied cryptically. "And I'm sure you will go."
"Take these as a gift."
Fang Yuan handed him Gu worms that would allow him to reach Rank 5 within a few days. Feng Tian Yu was currently only a Rank 4 Gu Master.
Before Feng Tian Yu could ask further questions, the land spirit teleported him away.
With that settled, Fang Yuan returned to the main hall and rested, keeping a casual eye on Bai Ning Bing, who stood guard outside.
"I just have to wait a little longer now," Fang Yuan thought to himself.
His thoughts drifted to Shang Xin Ci, and a rare warmth filled his heart. "Xin Ci... Her love for me is so damn pure. No games, no schemes—just her. She's the only one who deserves to stand by my side," he mused, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I swear, when the time comes, I'll ask her to come with me."
"I've already sent her an assistant and an apology," he thought, recalling the message he'd arranged. "But that's not enough. The next time I see her, I'm making it clear—no more dancing around it. She's mine, and I'll make sure she knows it."
The thought of seeing her again filled him with a rare eagerness. "I can't wait to look into her eyes, to hear her voice. My Shang Xin Ci..." he thought, a flicker of softness breaking through his usual cold demeanor. "I love you."
A shadow of resolve settled over him. "Before the Imperial Court, I'll make sure we meet again. I have plans to set in motion, and she'll be part of them. Just wait, my Xin Ci. It won't be long now."
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