Chapter 964

Having repelled Xiao clan’s reinforcements, Xiao Shan names the mountain Yi Tian Mountain and starts inviting demonic path members to build his forces. Before exile he was known for grand morals and a wide network across both paths, straightforward and loyal. Xiao clan itself weakens under pressure from Wu clan, at times unable to offend even rank four and five demonic path lone experts. Over the years Xiao Shan let such experts go or recruited them, killing only when necessary, and sometimes aided them financially, earning him approval among many demonic path Gu Masters despite being a righteous path clan leader. This now gives him strong rallying power. ^{ch. 964}

News of his village draws quick responses, and demonic path experts travel from afar to join while Southern Border’s Gu Immortals secretly intensify things to place their own pawns. In six or seven days Yi Tian Village passes thirty members. ^{ch. 964}

The group ranks by strength and chooses Xiao Shan as leader, his sworn brothers Sun Pang Hu and Zhou Xing Xing second and third as rank five experts. The rest are mostly rank two and three, with few at rank four. ^{ch. 964}

Elsewhere, Fang Yuan drinks wine with Gua Lao, a short, big headed old demonic path rank six Gu Immortal. Gua Lao steers talk toward the grand contest. Fang Yuan answers calmly: since it decides who gets Graceful Chaotic Duel Stage, no one will yield, and since all agreed to the terms, none should cause trouble. ^{ch. 964}

The Immortal Gu House’s appearance forced the demonic and lone path into a huge combined force, so the righteous path compromised into this gambling contest. Larger wagers buy higher cultivation pawns who enter earlier. When it ends, wagers redistribute by refined battle will; whoever refines over half wins and can activate the House, though even small bets can earn a huge fortune. Anyone who cheats has their wager completely confiscated, though late entrants can still join, and any bet can be raised as the contest goes on. ^{ch. 964}

Gua Lao, trying to raise his bet, lacks capital and has been borrowing around; he comes to Fang Yuan for the same reason. Gua Lao nods eagerly, praising the analysis, and adds that Xiao clan’s supreme elder already leads, since his pawn Xiao Shan entered first and is refining battle will from the earlier duel. His lead will keep growing as long as Xiao Shan lives. ^{ch. 964}

Fang Yuan notes Xiao Shan’s early entry gives the elder a huge advantage, though as only a rank seven he has paid a large price, his wagers the highest, beyond even rank eight Gu Immortals. Gua Lao agrees pawns should be at least rank four or risk dying for nothing. He admits he really hates not wagering himself, and short on funds, asks to borrow immortal materials, promising double back after the contest. Fang Yuan agrees, but demands a vow and an Immortal Gu as collateral. Gua Lao balks: if he had an Immortal Gu he would not need the House. ^{ch. 964}

Fang Yuan then lets his Immortal Gu aura show. Gua Lao’s heart sinks: this lone immortal he took for weak actually has one, beyond his expectations. Fearing his strength, Gua Lao forces a smile, apologizes, and leaves at once. Outside, his shame turns to anger, and he vows to return the humiliation once he has an Immortal Gu of his own. ^{ch. 964}

Alone, Fang Yuan reflects on bottom tier Gu Immortals’ gambling mentality. Most lack Immortal Gu and have an extreme thirst for the House, since the contest tests something other than raw strength and gives them hope. Gua Lao is only one such case. According to the news, Xiao clan’s supreme elder, a rank seven who barely survived his last tribulation and has not recovered, faces an even harder one approaching. As Xiao clan’s only remaining Gu Immortal, his death is nearly certain without support, but the House would give him huge assurance in surviving it. ^{ch. 964}

He has therefore gone all in, buying the right to field two pawns: Xiao Shan, demonic path, entering first, and Xiao Mang, righteous path, entering later, so either outcome still feeds his advantage. Both pawns rarely die, and his lead keeps growing. ^{ch. 964}

Fang Yuan reflects that he deliberately let his Immortal Gu’s aura show earlier, so other Gu Immortals would treat him with caution rather than as a weakling. He means to properly join the gambling contest, since the information it exposes is extremely valuable for understanding Southern Border’s Gu Immortal world. He even considers personally taking action in the gamble. ^{ch. 964}