Chapter 562

The secret phrase’s most crucial problem is solved, though more questions remain. Fang Yuan judges that the Gu Immortal who left an Immortal Gu as an inheritance, hiding its clue in fake grey-white stone slabs, must be at least a grandmaster in refinement path. Fang Yuan decides to try the inheritance with all his effort. By his current reckoning, refining the mysterious Immortal Gu with the force of Eighty-Eight True Yang Building takes over two hundred Gu worms, twenty-eight of them rank four and rank five, enough for only one use. He must prepare at least three times that against failure, and expects over half a month of preparation. ^{ch. 562}

Sixteen days later, Hei Lou Lan rages in the hall as the Black Tyrant, and three Hei tribe elders lie bedridden from his beatings. Hei Pei, head of the elders, waits out the fury before reporting that this seventy-eighth round is truly too difficult. Its guardian, a golden-white tiger phantom, holds thirty percent of the desolate beast’s powers, and mortal bodies can only harass it. Hei Lou Lan calls this nonsense and insists that if all unite and disregard sacrifices, they can definitely defeat it before the time limit. Yet everyone fears for their life when it attacks. His advance in the building stops at this round. ^{ch. 562}

He understands the elders, since the rewards for passing stages go to the tribe leader and leave very little incentive. They have already won the Imperial Court contest and expect a radiant future outside if they survive. They put their lives first, and a heavy beating is nothing compared to dying. ^{ch. 562}

Knowing that rank five strength cannot command their will, Hei Lou Lan decides to open the building and gather everyone’s strength. His Great Strength True Martial physique threatens his life, and only a strength path Immortal Gu can carry him to Gu Immortal. Whether the building holds such a Gu, or on which floor, is unknown. He means the other Huang Jin tribes in the blessed land, such as Ye Lui tribe and Ma tribe, who would charge forward madly as cannon fodder. Each round passed with them would advance the owner token with him, and outside help requires guest tokens. ^{ch. 562}

Hei Pei and Hei Qi Sheng object that these outsiders are not Hei tribe and may hand over nothing from a building Hei tribe won. Hei Lou Lan rebukes the elders as cowards, and they yield. Hei Pei then urges limits, saying that opening the building is like letting in a torrent, and names Wolf King Chang Shan Yin as the lesson. Other elders curse Wolf King as a hoodlum hogging the benefits, and one proposes leaving him out. Hei Lou Lan is greatly dissatisfied with Fang Yuan’s behavior, but Chang Shan Yin’s bearing in the decisive battle of the Imperial Court contest is still deeply engraved in his mind. Excluding him openly would show narrow-mindedness and risk the azure wolf group, and Hei Lou Lan asks for Hei Pei’s plan. ^{ch. 562}

Hei Pei proposes opening the building from tomorrow, with a fee that rises by order of entry and a quota of eight hundred entrants each day. Every entrant swears by poison vow Gu to hand Hei tribe fifty percent of all gains. Outsiders who want to enter the tower must buy Hei tribe’s guest tokens at a high price. The elders praise it; Hei Lou Lan accepts it with his eyes closed. ^{ch. 562}

The news causes a huge sensation in the sacred palace. Countless people rush to register; some curse Hei tribesmen for the greatly high fee, while others pay generously and fight for a quota. Fang Yuan watches indifferently but is inwardly happy. Inheriting the Di Qiu inheritance is now his utmost priority, and he would not have been very willing even had Hei Lou Lan invited him. With everyone’s attention on the building, he sees the perfect time to make his move on the inheritance. ^{ch. 562}