Chapter 389

On October 21st the land spirit reports a rank five expert in the blessed land, and Fang Yuan recognizes Xiao Mang of Xiao clan, a light path expert holding rank five extreme light Gu who appeared on San Cha mountain in his previous life. The land spirit, extremely worried, calls him a huge threat. Only white heaven and black heaven remain of the nine immemorial heavens, but the Gu can still summon the light of glory of that era, which has no attack power and passes through everything, even the blessed land. Fang Yuan scoffs: Xiao Mang robbed a tomb for an incomplete Gu, usable only three times every month, and exceeding that makes it self-destruct. The land spirit is relieved, yet admits it grows weaker and that Fang Yuan must rely on himself at the final juncture. ^{ch. 389}

Another failure on October 22nd leaves Fang Yuan spitting blood. It is his third at this step, which seems to rely on luck with a one in ten chance of success, and he begins a fourth attempt with less than four portions of immortal essence left. On October 23rd he finishes a false Gu, grey and shaped like a beetle with no legs or antennas. The joyous land spirit says one step remains to make it the true second aperture Gu. ^{ch. 389}

That last step is a qualitative change requiring Immortal Gu divine travel Gu, and though he refined Spring Autumn Cicada, he has never used an Immortal Gu to refine an Immortal Gu. Its recipe also needs lifespan Gu and two third watch Gu, and he only slightly understands its real intent. His mood is relaxed yet heavy. ^{ch. 389}

The land spirit shows two armies of dozens of rank three Gu Masters, each led by a rank four. Fang Yuan names them as Che clan and Zuo clan, led by their leaders, with most elders seeming to have come. The sudden three kings inheritance thoroughly ruined their plan to occupy San Cha mountain. Other forces send only elites across the Southern Border, but these neighbors commit most of their troops. All will attack the main hall at the final juncture. These troops are his enemies. ^{ch. 389}

Fang Yuan expects Li Xian, Hu Mei Er, Yi Huo, Kong Ri Tian and other experts too, an external danger, while he must concentrate fully on refining and leave the defense to the land spirit, Bai Ning Bing and Feng Tian Yu. The internal danger is that two third watch Gu in a row make time flow nine times faster on him, a tonic that sharply raises Spring Autumn Cicada’s pressure and endangers his aperture. He bets on it anyway. A second aperture would keep him from falling far behind Feng Jin Huang at rank six, and he rests for the final day. ^{ch. 389}

On October 24th Feng Tian Yu kneels outside the main hall and offers undefeated hundred battles Gu, which looks like a round piece of limestone. He reports that after the hundredth round and receiving King Xin Inheritance, he took in the several hundred hairy men beside him, men who follow those better at refining Gu. Fang Yuan praises him indifferently and is not surprised. ^{ch. 389}

Bai Ning Bing says the hall seems to be the blessed land’s center area and tells Fang Yuan to remember his promise. Fang Yuan notes that her nearly hundred thousand dog beasts mill about in disorder, whereas Zhang San San, Wu Gui or Wu Shen Tong could hold them in a tight formation. She has no enslavement path training, and commanding so many dogs leaves her dizzy. Fang Yuan orders a defensive formation, with no initiative to attack however the enemies provoke. She replies coldly that the outcome is no concern of hers, and he promises her the Yang Gu either way. ^{ch. 389}

On San Cha mountain’s peak, Gu Masters see two light pillars vanish, meaning King Xin and King Quan Inheritance are taken. When none of the rank five Gu Masters who entered comes out, Xiao Mang says they are detained and the blessed land is nearing extinction, so the passage will soon open. Righteous path Gu Masters hail him as Lord Xiao Mang. Using extreme light Gu with heaven’s will Gu and empty fist Gu as the killer move Immemorial Light Fist, he forms a mountain sized fist of light that pierces a formless membrane and opens an enormous hole connecting to the outside world. ^{ch. 389}