Chapter 858

Fang Yuan concludes that He Feng Yang is showing him goodwill. The gesture is a symbolic invitation to see Fei He mountain, Immortal Crane Sect’s base. His duel with Feng Jin Huang gave Spirit Affinity House priority in guts Gu transactions over Immortal Crane Sect itself, done publicly during the Convention so the sect cannot object. This threatens Immortal Crane Sect, since Spirit Affinity House has historically recruited demonic path Gu Immortals at the highest rate among the ten sects. Having failed to retake Hu Immortal blessed land, the sect now courts him gently instead, which is why He Feng Yang offered the possession technique. ^{ch. 858}

He Feng Yang reasons that keeping Fang Zheng alive would let Heavenly Court take Hu Immortal blessed land. Fang Yuan notes that positioning himself between the two sects has cut his outside pressure by more than half. He had planned this by delaying, then accepting, the duel. The real lever was guts Gu’s own allure, since seizing Hu Immortal blessed land drove Feng Jin Huang to discover dream wings Immortal Gu’s true ability early. ^{ch. 858}

Fang Yuan had drawn the duel to favor Spirit Affinity House, greatly easing his pressure and buying time for larger plans. Once Eighty-Eight True Yang Building’s collapse is traced to him, he will be hunted. Feng Jin Huang, though injured and without a win, is the duel’s biggest winner: guts Gu lets her use dream wings Immortal Gu, her speed soon surpassing nearly every Gu Immortal. In his previous life Fang Yuan killed her; now he aids her instead. ^{ch. 858}

Tai Bai Yun Sheng comes to say goodbye, having found a site in Northern Plains for his blessed land. Fang Yuan thanks him and promises to lend a hand when the calamity comes. Tai Bai Yun Sheng departs by stargate; with Star Form blessed land’s stock of starlight firefly Gu, Fang Yuan no longer rations stargate use. ^{ch. 858}

Fang Yuan visits the prison cell and finds Fang Zheng alive. The earlier killing was staged. He had cut off Fang Zheng’s arm and fitted a dog limb beforehand to fake abuse, then had Tai Bai Yun Sheng use Man as Before Immortal Gu on the severed limb to revive him when He Feng Yang struck. He Feng Yang, unaware such an Immortal Gu exists, believes Fang Zheng destroyed entirely. ^{ch. 858}

Fang Yuan mockingly hands Fang Zheng an information path Gu worm recording the killing and He Feng Yang’s talk with Lord Sky Crane’s soul. Fang Zheng refuses to believe it, breaking the Gu worm in rage after watching and demanding to see and hear it himself. Fang Yuan tells him he will witness it all, but not yet. He leaves him screaming in the dark cell. ^{ch. 858}

Having eliminated some skilled refinement experts early, Fang Yuan advances smoothly through the rest of the Convention. Feng Jin Huang finishes sixth. Fang Yuan reaches the final against Yu Mu Chun, a true refinement path quasi-great grandmaster, and loses completely despite knowing the task in advance. Yu Mu Chun took first place in Fang Yuan’s previous life too. ^{ch. 858}

Fang Yuan forfeits without competing, drawing complaints that he rigged it. Reaching second place secures his real goal, a success dao mark that cannot be traded or given away, even to Heavenly Court. The ten ancient sects try to deal for its use, having him refine a rank six Immortal Gu without failure; Fang Yuan rejects every offer. ^{ch. 858}

Back at Hu Immortal blessed land, Fang Yuan begins gathering materials to refine change form Immortal Gu. The success dao mark means he needs only one set, but gathering it still costs most of the immortal materials he won at the Northern Plains auction. Only the guts Gu trade and the success dao mark make this gamble possible. ^{ch. 858}