59 Fang Yuan's Voluntary Request, Breaking Away from Qi Tian's Plan

After the natural disaster, Fang Yuan settled down and continued his cultivation.

With the help of the Nine-Eyed Wine Worm, Fang Yuan successfully reached the peak of the Four-Transformation stage.

However, once he reached the peak of the Four-Transformation stage, the Nine-Eyed Wine Worm lost its effectiveness.

Now, relying solely on the refining of true gold and true essence to wash his empty apertures, Fang Yuan's cultivation speed slowed down significantly.

At the same time, his soul count increased to one hundred souls. But due to the lack of soul-transforming and soul-nurturing Gu worms, he could only temporarily stop at the hundred-soul limit.

Qi Tian naturally had plenty of soul-transforming Gu worms and refining recipes, but the key was that Fang Yuan didn't know what Qi Tian had, and Qi Tian wouldn't allow Fang Yuan to progress too quickly.

Regarding the trade with the Immortal Crane Sect, Fang Yuan was aware of it, but any Gu worms that directly affected the soul were not something he would trust if they came through the Immortal Crane Sect.

"Junior brother, you're just in time. I also have something to discuss with you," Qi Tian said, cutting to the chase.

"Oh? What is it, senior brother?" Fang Yuan asked, puzzled.

"It's like this. When I sent the stone golems to the mountains to mine, I discovered a major crisis!" Qi Tian's expression grew serious.

After a pause, he continued, "During the earlier natural disaster, the mud crab had already used a consumable Immortal Gu and rare mud. The power of the Immortal Gu was hidden in the mud. I was careless!"

"Didn't you plan to consume the mud inside the wild beast's stomach during the natural disaster? Did you not notice it earlier?" Fang Yuan's thoughts shifted.

"The power of the rare mud Immortal Gu is very hidden, and the yellow mud doesn't give off any aura of Immortal Gu. At that time, I was merely suspicious," Qi Tian explained.

"I never expected that even after using up so much of the mud, it still left traces in the Soul Eater Mountain. Although I cleaned the battlefield, some of the yellow mud seeped into the mountain. Alas! Man proposes, but heaven disposes."

Qi Tian sighed deeply and looked at Fang Yuan.

"Senior brother is looking to me for a solution?" Fang Yuan's thoughts began to stir.

"Exactly!" Qi Tian didn't interrupt Fang Yuan's contemplation, waiting for a response.

Fang Yuan had come to Qi Tian seeking to use the excuse of the Purple Mountain True Monarch to convince him to send him to the East Sea.

In his previous life, Fang Yuan had wandered across five regions, spending some time in the East Sea. The East Sea was rich in resources, considered the best among the five regions, even surpassing Zhongzhou.

With the recent instability in the East Sea, the opportunities for profit were abundant, with many prospects and rewards. He also remembered the Blue Abyss Blessed Land, the Azure Whale, and Rainbow Island.

But after hearing about the hidden dangers in the Soul Eater Mountain, Fang Yuan had to rethink his plans.

He turned his thoughts to the Northern Plain, where the Langya Blessed Land and the competition for the royal throne provided great opportunities.

After making a decision, Fang Yuan raised his fingers—index, middle, and ring—and said, "I have three strategies."

"The first one is the Six-Transformation Earth Path Gu, the Fossil Gu. This Gu is currently under the control of the Six-Transformation Gu Immortal Sun Cu in the Western Desert."

"The second one is also an Earth Path Six-Transformation Immortal Gu, called 'Rise of the Eastern Mountain.' This Gu is already in existence and hidden in the Sea Market Blessed Land of the East Sea."

"The third one is a Six-Transformation Temporal Path Immortal Gu, called 'The Country Remains the Same.' This Gu is refined by combining the Five-Transformation 'River as It Was' and 'Mountain as It Was,' but this Gu has yet to be born."

After a pause, Fang Yuan looked at Qi Tian, who hadn't changed his expression, and smiled, "I'm sure senior brother has already planned something, so there's no need to trouble me."

"It seems junior brother has learned a lot from our master!" Qi Tian replied. "These three methods are indeed the most feasible, but the first one would mean facing an old Gu Immortal, which is too difficult. The second requires exchanging an Immortal Gu, and carrying Immortal Gu in a mortal body is far too dangerous. The third one is indeed doable."

Qi Tian continued, "Taibai Yunsheng and both of us are fellow disciples. As long as he ascends to Immortal status and refines the Immortal Gu, it won't be hard to rely on him. But this also carries risks, since ascension is incredibly difficult. If he doesn't succeed or ascends too late..."

"Then senior brother is choosing the third strategy?" Fang Yuan asked, probing.

"Yes! This is the most feasible approach," Qi Tian confirmed. "But as you said, our master has many registered disciples. I'm able to obtain the Fox Immortal Blessed Land and can consider myself a semi-Immortal. I now have the qualifications to become a true disciple. If Taibai Yunsheng cannot ascend, you and I can reclaim the inheritance and refine the Country Remains the Same together. How about that?"

In Fang Yuan's fabricated lie, all registered disciples would automatically be promoted to true disciples once they became Gu Immortals, aside from a few true disciples directly accepted by the Purple Mountain True Monarch.

Qi Tian also believed in this, using it as part of his strategy to deceive Fang Yuan.

Qi Tian knew that when dealing with a potential danger like Fang Yuan, the best approach was to eliminate him directly, the second was to use him for personal gain, and the third was to suppress him.

Since Qi Tian was confident in his knowledge of Fang Yuan and his own plans, he had chosen the second option.

And so, under Qi Tian's guidance, Fang Yuan chose the path of the third strategy.

"Master knew of your situation and sent me to assist you. Since you've made your decision, I'll wholeheartedly support you. As for the Northern Plain, I'll handle it while you stay at the Fox Immortal Blessed Land. How does that sound?" Fang Yuan said with righteous determination.

"That sounds excellent! But as for the journey to the Northern Plain, I can send you with the Fixed Immortal Travel, but cross-domain communication is an issue," Qi Tian said with a pretended look of concern.

"I have a recipe here for crafting cross-domain transmission Gu worms, but it requires quite a few Gu and materials," Fang Yuan responded, using the excuse of the "Cup Change Gu."

"I'll take care of this. When I next trade with the Immortal Crane Sect, I'll prepare everything for you." Qi Tian had previously gathered the materials for the transaction, but he couldn't tell Fang Yuan that.

Over the next few months, after Qi Tian provided the Gu and materials, Fang Yuan immersed himself in refining.

First, he created over a hundred Three-Transformation Golden Cup Gu and Silver Cup Gu. Then, combining the two, he created three Four-Transformation Golden and Silver Cup Gu.

Finally, using the Four-Transformation Golden and Silver Cup Gu, along with the Four-Transformation Gu of Side Push, Step Shift, and Transformation Change, he refined the Five-Transformation Cup Change Gu.

He also created the Dust Masking Gu, Bright Pearl Gu, Dark Throwing Gu, and Earth Tomb Flower King Gu.

During this time, Fang Yuan thought long and hard, combing through his memories for useful information and weaving his plan for the Northern Plain.

However, plans change. Since his rebirth, his plans have been constantly evolving.

From Qingmao Mountain, when he became a top-tier talent and broke through, his plans changed. The second time was at Three-Pronged Mountain, where his rapid rise further disrupted his original plans.

Now, after reaching the Fox Immortal Blessed Land, his plans were yet again in flux. Using his skill in rhetoric and acting, he fabricated the identity of a "fellow disciple" of Qi Tian to temporarily stay at the Blessed Land.

He also realized Qi Tian's formidable nature and understood that staying in the Fox Immortal Blessed Land wouldn't be permanent. Given Qi Tian's intelligence, how long could the lie of being the Purple Mountain True Monarch last?

The Fox Immortal Blessed Land itself was in a precarious position, and Qi Tian could only handle the pressure from the Immortal Crane Sect for so long.

Fang Yuan, therefore, knew he had to find another way.

Though there were still benefits to the Battle of Yitian Mountain, refining Immortal Gu in public would make him a target for many forces and Gu Immortals, especially in the Southern Wilderness.

The Western Desert was stable, but people relied on the oases to live, and Fang Yuan wasn't interested in exploiting it.

Zhongzhou was ruled by the Ten Great Ancient Sects, with many Immortal and Demon Gu Immortals, and he couldn't profit without power. Moreover, after stealing the Blood Skull Gu from the Immortal Crane Sect, how could he survive under their scrutiny?

The East Sea, however, was rich in resources, and its instability provided many opportunities for profit. It was once his ideal choice.

But after hearing about the dangers of Soul Eater Mountain, Fang Yuan came up with new ideas.

In the Northern Plain, the tribes were in constant motion, with conflicts and battles inevitable. It was chaotic but perfect for hiding his identity.

Moreover, with the opportunity in the Langya Blessed Land and the royal court struggle...

Based on his knowledge of previous Hero Conferences, he could join the victorious faction and enter the royal court Blessed Land.

If he could learn the secrets of the True Sun Tower from the Langya Blessed Land and use the memory of Zhongzhou's ancient sects conquering the royal court's Holy Palace, he could enter the True Inheritance Secret Realm.

Once inside, he could gain immense power and perhaps become the master of the Earth Spirit, rising rapidly.

He could then explore the True Sun Tower every ten years, constantly changing his identity.

Alternatively, he could trick Qi Tian into the royal court Blessed Land and kill him. With Qi Tian dead, the Earth Spirit would choose a new master, and Fang Yuan would return to the Fox Immortal Blessed Land to complete the recognition of its Earth Spirit.

With these two Blessed Lands—one bright, one dark—even if he lost the Fox Immortal Blessed Land, the royal court Blessed Land would be his fallback.

But this plan had its own set of problems, including how to integrate into the Northern Plain and the resources needed to participate in the royal court's struggle, as well as the difficulties and uncertainties of exploring the True Sun Tower.

Regarding the "Country Remains the Same" plan, although Qi Tian was still the owner of Soul Eater Mountain, Fang Yuan knew he needed to carefully consider it to secure Qi Tian's support.

After all, the Fox Immortal Blessed Land's resources would play a key role in this action, and he might even have to involve Qi Tian as an external force.

But no matter what, the Northern Plain was Fang Yuan's only way out.

This was his only opportunity to resolve the current predicament.