Chapter 1316

A few days after Mountain Moving Old Monster takes Mount Snail away as its effective keeper, with Wu clan retaining ownership in name, Fang Yuan judges the task could be considered complete, though what he retained was only a portion. He judges Old Monster agreed because of Wu clan’s force standing behind him. He judges Wu Yong, worn down by pressure from other super forces, has no choice but to forcibly acknowledge the resolution. Wu clan’s situation is grave, and Fang Yuan tells himself that, as Wu Yong’s brother, he must return as quickly as possible rather than idle outside. ^{ch. 1316}

He is thoroughly satisfied with the outcome, since it gives him an explanation for Wu clan and resources enough to begin the coiling thread caves and fund a large scale expansion of his second major resource. At his previous pace, he estimates he would otherwise have needed more than half a year. That timeline depends on no mishap occurring, such as intense battle draining his red date immortal essence. His aperture’s slowed time flow already limits how much red date essence he produces, so he needs a hundred immortal essence stones for every bead to make up the gap. He still needs dark soft silk and regret water rocks to finish the caves. ^{ch. 1316}

At Wu clan’s headquarters, Wu Yong asks Elder Wu Fa how Wu Yi Hai should be rewarded, testing Wu Fa’s read on his half brother. Wu Fa answers only that Lord Wu Yi Hai has a lone cultivator’s background. Wu Yong takes this to mean Yi Hai keeps a lone cultivator’s disposition, always eyeing cheap benefits, but Wu Fa disagrees, pointing out that Frosty Peak and Mount Snail were not small gains. Wu Yong agrees Fang Yuan has some ability but is self interested, and grants that he has not overstepped the bottom line or left behind any exposable weakness. He privately decides that, although he will keep using Fang Yuan while Wu clan is short on manpower, he will cast him aside once the clan’s situation eases. If Fang Yuan leaves behind evidence of wrongdoing by then, Wu Yong means to seize the chance and deal him a huge blow. ^{ch. 1316}

Fang Yuan returns, briefly recounts the matter to Wu Yong, and receives a reward that cannot compare to what Mountain Moving Old Monster gave him, far too little by comparison, which he exchanges for immortal essence stones. He continues building the coiling thread caves, and at set intervals must draw heaven and earth qi into his aperture to stabilize it, since Reverse Flow River is extremely taxing on the space it holds. He cannot absorb the qi directly, since the amount needed each time is huge and the interval between doses short, so he buys immortal materials in treasure yellow heaven and disintegrates them into heaven and earth qi, at a cost in energy and finances. He manages it carefully to avoid exposing his identity. Fang Yuan grows somewhat impatient as Wu Yong does not seem to show any sign of letting him return to the dream realm, even though matters there have settled. Wu Yong, still wary of disruption at the super Gu formation and wanting further use of his ability, gives no sign of releasing him, and is meanwhile turning a blind eye, for now, to his embezzling, though Fang Yuan wants it looked into. Fang Yuan resolves to force the matter himself. ^{ch. 1316}

About twelve days later, Fang Yuan, as Wu Yi Hai, attends Southern Border’s yearly moon festival, hosted by Qiao Si Liu, in a pavilion on Yue Hua Mountain. She seats him at her right, above fellow guests Luo Mu Zi and Lun Fei, with her friend Fairy Tian Lu on her left. Luo Mu Zi and Lun Fei are both pursuers of Qiao Si Liu. Fang Yuan asks what the festival involves beyond viewing the moon, though he already knows; Qiao Si Liu answers that they drink tea, recite poems, and also dissect rocks. ^{ch. 1316}

Qiao Si Liu serves Fang Yuan tea she brewed herself. Fairy Tian Lu explains that swirling the cup first, until a willow leaf whirlpool forms, is needed to taste it properly; Fang Yuan does so and praises the tea. Tian Lu adds that the brew took six hours of careful attention. When Lun Fei calls tasting it a lifetime honor, Tian Lu curtly retorts that no one said he could taste it, since Qiao Si Liu made this one cup in time taken from a busy schedule. ^{ch. 1316}