Chapter 656

Fang Yuan tells Tai Bai Yun Sheng he cannot contact Lang Ya land spirit. Twice before he took an Immortal Gu from the old land spirit, and was nearly chased out. No method can bridge their two blessed lands directly: hole earth Gu needs a closer tie than theirs, and stargate Gu comes in pairs, with one of his two destroyed in the wind veil of assimilation. Tai Bai Yun Sheng suggests returning to northern plains to meet the land spirit in person. ^{ch. 656}

Fang Yuan proposes waiting instead. Lang Ya land spirit loves refining Gu, but his blessed land’s terrain is very plain and yields only very limited materials, so he visits treasure yellow heaven often, and they can watch there for his divine sense. Tai Bai Yun Sheng’s eyes light up, and he promises to open connecting heaven Gu and watch at once. He returns to his temporary house in the blessed land’s western part, its terrain enough like northern plains to feel like home after half a life of roaming. ^{ch. 656}

Alone, Fang Yuan reflects that he had already asked Little Hu Immortal to watch, with no result. What occupies him now is Tai Bai Yun Sheng, observed heavily these past days. He judges him able but without ambition, of ordinary intelligence yet carrying a lifetime’s wisdom, lacking any grasp of the big picture, so years of roaming built him no force of his own. Such a man is best kept as a close follower, Fang Yuan concludes, since left alone his nature could ruin a plan. ^{ch. 656}

Their bond has grown through constant contact and late night talks, in which Fang Yuan shares his history since rebirth, adding only the invented Purple Mountain True Monarch, while Tai Bai Yun Sheng shares nearly all of his own life. The talks are deliberate. They test his loyalty and deepen his sense of belonging. They also end, again and again, with Fang Yuan’s method chosen and his own denied, so he leans on Fang Yuan more each time. Fang Yuan holds no slavery Gu, unlike Hei Lou Lan, yet believes his own methods can still bend Tai Bai Yun Sheng to full use. ^{ch. 656}

At Fei He mountain, Fang Zheng commands thousands of iron beak flying cranes in drilled formation from a cliff. A year after the setback of the Hu Immortal blessed land contest, he trains daily as though risking his life. Lord Sky Crane’s voice praises his effortless command. It tells him he may attempt the sect’s flying crane manipulation test for a B grade, at sixty percent odds. Success would earn a rank five five hole jade flute Gu, raising his crane command to quasi enslavement master level. Excited, Fang Zheng flies to Immortal Crane Sect, landing at white jade square D. ^{ch. 656}

A disciple greets him as senior brother, and others whisper he is the batch’s top elite, already a quasi enslavement path master. The whispers turn to his brother, rumored a supreme elder’s secret disciple who saved Hu Immortal blessed land from Spirit Affinity House and sealed the deal himself. Others guess sourly that Fang Zheng himself used the guts Gu on Dang Hun mountain to reach rank five so fast. His smile fades. Immortal Crane Sect now publicly claims Fang Yuan as its own disciple. This year has felt to Fang Zheng like the past returning: whatever he achieves, others praise briefly before turning to his more impressive brother. ^{ch. 656}

Lord Sky Crane consoles him, calling him no longer inferior to his brother now that he is a rank five Gu Master and quasi enslavement master. He adds that Fang Yuan will soon face extermination: the sect has sent three supreme elders, the strength of three Gu Immortals, to retake Hu Immortal blessed land. Fang Yuan cannot survive it, he says. He tells Fang Zheng to feel no guilt, since his brother walked the demonic path and slaughtered his own clan. Fang Zheng inwardly vows revenge for his clan, his uncle and aunt, and Shen Cui Er. ^{ch. 656}

Very pleased, Lord Sky Crane recalls Fang Zheng’s years training in Fu Hu blessed land, where one year outside passed as eight within, all toward retaking Hu Immortal blessed land. He tells him not to fail at this crucial moment. Fang Zheng swears he will do his best, exterminate all evil, and take down his brother in the name of justice. ^{ch. 656}