Chapter 309

Wei Yang’s successful bid for the heavenly essence treasure monarch lotus recipe ends the auction, where many buyers come away with something from the collection of Ju clan, a house standing for centuries. Fang Yuan urges everyone to stay for a feast he hosts. After three cups of wine, Wei Yang hands him a rank four heart engraved Gu that stores the recipe. Fang Yuan spent six hundred and seventy thousand primeval stones on it and had Wei Yang bid to avoid suspicions. He declines the Gu. Wei Yang, who has refined it already, pours in primeval essence at Fang Yuan’s request, and the recipe appears in Fang Yuan’s mind, deeply imprinted, naming the main Gu worm, every supplementary material and every step. ^{ch. 309}

Fang Yuan is happy: his heavenly essence treasure lotus is only rank three, and the recipe will no doubt help if he can one day refine the monarch lotus. The recipe is not yet appraised, but he judges the probability of it being fake very small; Shang clan would not otherwise have auctioned it. He still needs some Gu to deduce it further and prevent traps or errors. He is sure many people will guess that he has the lotus, but though it might be rare and precious, unlike the blood skull Gu it is neither one of a kind nor troublesome. His Gu set assembly is nearing completion, rank three upper stage is a few days off, and after it he means to reach peak stage with white silver relic Gu. With the purple thorn token protecting him and most people only guessing, he can accept the consequences. Shang Xin Ci guesses about the lotus but does not ask, as Shang Yan Fei taught her that asking other Gu Masters about their Gu worms is a great taboo. ^{ch. 309}

Bai Ning Bing cannot see through why Fang Yuan gave up bitter strength Gu to buy atmosphere Gu. Shang Xin Ci sighs that a young master can apply to the clan for three Gu worms every year, and she could easily get bitter strength Gu that way. She wants to help Fang Yuan, who has long searched for one. Shang Ya Zi prevented him from obtaining the one that appeared at the auction. Fang Yuan says that maybe Shang Ya Zi might hand it over, and Shang Chi Wen shakes her head, afraid it is not possible: he spent eight hundred and ten thousand and became a laughingstock. Fang Yuan points at Bai Ning Bing, saying everything is thanks to her, and tells everyone to wait two to three days. ^{ch. 309}

Fang Yuan asks Shang Xin Ci solemnly whether she really wants to be a young master, warning of the political whirlpool and bloody competition. She answers that even now she has no real freedom, and that on the journey to Shang clan city she narrowly escaped death many times. She has concluded that only high cultivation and influence let her shelter the people she cares about. Wei Yang praises her aspiration, and Xiao Die proudly says her missy is a genius in business. Fang Yuan laughs, agrees with Xiao Die and promises help. ^{ch. 309}

Shang Chi Wen advises that this year’s young master examination has passed and Shang Xin Ci can try next year, when one position a year can draw hundreds of competitors. Inwardly she disapproves: Shang Xin Ci is only rank one upper stage, lacks even B grade aptitude, has no supporters and has a mother from Zhang clan, which hates Shang clan deeply. Shang Yan Fei dotes on her and paid an enormous price to change her hopeless aptitude, but she is isolated. Her chances are extremely slim. ^{ch. 309}

Fang Yuan knows all this; in his previous life she needed six years to become a young master, standing alone. Now she has his support, and he says he will help her become one this year. Shang Chi Wen replies that she will wait and see, privately curling her lip. Wei Yang says that as an elder of the clan he cannot interfere, and Fang Yuan answers that no help is needed; the plan was made two years ago and is all thanks to Ning Bing. Everyone looks at Bai Ning Bing. She keeps an indifferent face, but doubts rise and she secretly curses. ^{ch. 309}