Chapter 355

Three days after handing over ancient bronze skin Gu, Li Xian personally delivers essence iron bone Gu, a rank four Gu obtained by reverse refining iron bone Gu; its black light passes through Fang Yuan’s skin to make a skeleton already iron hard from iron bone Gu firmer still, though the process demands far more time than the original. Alongside it, Fang Yuan keeps using nine eyes liquor worm to refine his light gold primeval essence into bright gold essence, which he then uses to cleanse and strengthen his own aperture, using every spare moment and feeling his strength grow by the day. ^{ch. 355}

More than a month has passed since he left King Quan Inheritance, and while he is nearly done with ancient bronze skin Gu, essence iron bone Gu remains far off unless he accelerates his own time with a universe path Gu. Universe path Gu, from Third Watch Gu and Spring Autumn Cicada up through rank five, let a Gu Master speed grinding cultivation along, but Fang Yuan’s own case is different: since he carries Spring Autumn Cicada, speeding his own time would only speed its recovery too, and he judges that would kill him. San Cha mountain’s blessed land already runs three times faster than the outside world, and the time he spent inside King Quan Inheritance alone has advanced the cicada’s recovery some, leaving him no choice but patient, grinding cultivation. ^{ch. 355}

Yi Huo, the fire path Gu Master known across Southern Border as blazing inferno, rank four peak stage and one of Shang clan’s five great elders under Shang Yan Fei, calls Fang Yuan out of his cave. Fang Yuan quickly places him as ranked above light swordsman Wei Yang and answerable to no one but the clan leader, his presence alone bound to reshape San Cha mountain’s balance of power. Yi Huo’s purpose is simple: he invites Fang Yuan, and by extension Bai Ning Bing, into Shang clan, promising to rescue her from Tie clan’s four elders, who have held her for around two months now, the moment they agree. ^{ch. 355}

Fang Yuan is not surprised Shang clan would send someone; the clan once ruled San Cha mountain before Wu clan pushed it back, and demonic path’s rise has only weakened its hold further. In a previous life, he recalls, this same Yi Huo came here too, suppressing Wu Shen Tong and Yi Chong, defeating Kong Ri Tian and Long Qing Tian, and ruling San Cha mountain for a time before Long Qing Tian poisoned him with blue halo Gu and forced his retreat to Shang clan city for treatment. That he has come this time to recruit Fang Yuan instead is new, and beyond anything Fang Yuan foresaw. ^{ch. 355}

Fang Yuan presses him on whether the invitation is Shang clan’s idea or his own; Yi Huo insists it is entirely his, praising Fang Yuan’s feats at the battle stage, but stumbles when asked whether an external elder like himself even has authority to recommend talent. Pressed further, he admits the truth: the clan leader has promised him the Shang surname and a true elder’s authority if he can bring San Cha mountain under control, and Fang Yuan’s open surprise at the news gives way to silent contemplation. Yi Huo grants him three days to decide, then three more when the answer still has not come. ^{ch. 355}

At the end of that second span, Fang Yuan sincerely declines, saying he prefers demonic path’s freedom; Yi Huo’s fury is immediate, accusing him of stringing him along over three days for nothing. Yi Huo warns him that Tie clan’s four elders are no easy mark and that things look grim for Bai Ning Bing without his help, and adds that Sky Tiger Xue San Si, whom Fang Yuan killed, was goddaughter to Century Boy, a wood path rank four upper stage demonic Gu Master who has been watching him. Fang Yuan feigns fresh hesitation and asks for ten more days; Yi Huo, though annoyed at the length, grants it, warning that time cannot be dragged out forever with Bai Ning Bing still in danger. ^{ch. 355}

Privately, Fang Yuan finds it laughable that Yi Huo takes Bai Ning Bing for his woman; the poison vow Gu between them is already broken and he has matured to rank four initial stage on his own, so whether she lives or dies now rests purely on his will. Losing her as a partner would still leave him a lone force at San Cha mountain, so his plan is to keep cultivating rather than rush to save her, let her draw attention outside a while longer since he no longer needs bone flesh unity Gu from their bond, and use the time to surpass her strength for easier command later, trusting that so many watching eyes will keep Tie clan’s four elders from finishing her off. ^{ch. 355}

Ten days later, Fang Yuan declines a final time, saying he has weighed the offer from every angle and still chooses freedom. Yi Huo’s face turns ugly at being strung along again, but Fang Yuan insists he has been sincere throughout and simply has no time to spare with the three kings inheritance about to reopen. Yi Huo swallows his anger, studies him a long moment, and leaves. ^{ch. 355}