Chapter 1176

Fang Yuan reaches Hei Fan grotto-heaven, admiring Chu Du’s foresight: his own super Gu formation moves people in and out secretly, a backup against being trapped by Heavenly Lord Bai Zu. Chu Du greets him with visible joy. ^{ch. 1176}

Fang Yuan sighs that fate toys with people. Without the mishap, Hei Fan grotto-heaven would be peaceful, and he sees smoke, beast growls and fighting. Chu Du explains Heavenly Lord Bai Zu keeps sending beasts, so he has invited experts to guard it while he alone blocks the true body. ^{ch. 1176}

Fang Yuan says he has not disappointed him, and two wills fly from his sleeves, Not Immortal and Pang Shan, carrying their Immortal Gu and essence. He never kept them in his own aperture, since it cannot be exposed. He had thought of harming the wills for their Immortal Gu, but judged it unlikely, since his alliance agreement would trigger a killing backlash, and each Gu, filled with its bearer’s will, could self-detonate at a thought. ^{ch. 1176}

Chu Du thanks him and keeps Pang Shan’s will in his own aperture, a Gu Immortal’s most reliable base and one not normally opened to outsiders. Fang Yuan judges he trusts Pang Shan. Chu Du tells Not Immortal’s will to stay with his ally, and Not Immortal smiles that his main body guessed correctly in choosing this person. ^{ch. 1176}

Limitless Demon Venerable built Crazed Demon Cave. He refined the legendary derivation Gu, then hid there in his later years running experiments and refinements on it, chasing eternal life. Whether he succeeded before vanishing is unrecorded, Not Immortal’s will says, but confirms derivation Gu sits at the deepest layer, surrounded by a super Gu formation. Derivation Gu is famous from The Legends of Ren Zu, where Ren Zu gathered his ten dead children and sacrificed himself into its stomach to create the first mortals. ^{ch. 1176}

Fang Yuan asks whether Limitless meant to imitate Ren Zu and remake humanity. Not Immortal’s will says that method was unique to Ren Zu, since Limitless followed rule path, wanting derivation Gu to derive new dao marks as clues toward eternal life. Chu Du confirms it: the demonic sounds are that formation’s side effect, its true purpose changing the dao marks inside living bodies to create new ones. ^{ch. 1176}

New dao marks form as the sounds grow stronger, but the formation pulls every new mark down to the deepest layer. The eccentrics mean to break through and control derivation Gu themselves. None of their specialties reach Chu Du’s strength path attainment, so after little progress in hundreds of years they recruited him instead. ^{ch. 1176}

Chu Du judged Fang Yuan suitable through the true meaning of Reckless Savage. He gave him the token, wanting a deeper connection. Fang Yuan asks what abilities got him chosen, but Chu Du laughs off the modesty: he is a transformation path rank seven passing flawlessly for rank six, his tribulation showing a foundation hardly anyone in Northern Plains can match. ^{ch. 1176}

Not Immortal’s will is shocked to hear he is truly rank seven. Fang Yuan admits the credit belongs mainly to his killer move familiar face, since his real attainment, though not low, is superficial. He then raises his aura from rank six to rank seven, and apologizes for the concealment he needed to survive a dangerous place. Not Immortal’s will waves it off, his attitude changed, since dealings between Gu Immortals mostly turn on strength. ^{ch. 1176}

Chu Du asks whether Fang Yuan will join the search for eternal life and Limitless Demon Venerable’s later-years achievement. Fang Yuan agrees at once. Not Immortal’s will says that after this battle Brother Liu may come to Crazed Demon Cave to set the Crazed Demon Agreement, and Fang Yuan agrees curtly. Chu Du arranges for Not Immortal to follow Fang Yuan, a sincere gesture. ^{ch. 1176}

Keeping both wills would let Chu Du hold Care and No and break his agreement without backlash; splitting them instead shows good faith. Fang Yuan waves a hand: if they trust him he will keep No Immortal Gu, and Not Immortal’s will and essence can go to Chu Du. Chu Du laughs that Brother Liu is vigilant, but agrees. ^{ch. 1176}