Central Continent, Great Love Blessed Land, inside Wujiang City.
Wujiang City was a prototype for a massive Human Path immortal gu house. Although no immortal gu had been integrated into the city yet, it carried Yuan Fang's grandest vision.
He intended to forge this city into a true Human Path immortal gu house, one without precedent and without equal in the future.
Using his Killer Move Peoples Hearts Are Drawn To as the core Foundation and Space Path methods, Yuan Fang made it so Wujiang City could accommodate millions, or even tens of millions, of inhabitants.
Beyond the functions of an immortal gu house, Yuan Fang wanted to turn Wujiang City into a super resource point, even an ultimate resource point.
He intended to gather infinite human Qi and human will, allowing the immortal gu house Wujiang City to possess the capabilities of both the Human Sea and Human Smoke Mountain—two man-made secluded domains of heaven and earth—killing two birds with one stone.
However, no matter how magnificent the blueprint, one must keep their feet on the ground.
Though Yuan Fang's vision was earth-shattering, his own Foundation was lacking and his financial resources were strained, making it difficult to reach the heavens in a single step.
Even so, he still took the most crucial first step in constructing Wujiang City—the Thousand Wish Tree.
The Thousand Wish Tree was an ancient desolate plant of the Human Path, the only one in the world, originally growing within the territory of the Mo Family in the Western Desert.
Before bearing fruit, this tree was no different from ordinary plants, so it often went unnoticed for years.
The Thousand Wish Tree bears fruit once every few centuries, producing a thousand fruits at a time. Whether they be common Mortals, Gu Masters, or Gu Immortals, all can make a wish to it.
In Fang Yuan's memories of his five hundred years of past life, Han Li had once made a prayer to the Thousand Wish Tree and eventually obtained a Void Heaven Immortal Gu, a Heaven-Defying Opportunity.
Now, Yuan Fang used his own Human Path methods to uproot the entire Thousand Wish Tree.
Upon leaving, he also conveniently relocated Han Li along with the entire Han Family Village back to Central Continent, including that Mo Da who wanted to take advantage of Han Li.
(I seriously suspect the author has read A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality.)
The Thousand Wish Tree was never suited for growing in desert wastelands; its truly compatible environment was a bustling, densely populated marketplace with thriving human Qi.
But the Heavenly Dao always takes away from the surplus to replenish the deficient. Since the Thousand Wish Tree possessed such Heaven-Defying power, it was naturally suppressed by Heaven's Will.
Thus, the Thousand Wish Tree was forcibly placed in a desolate desert, cut off from the nourishment of abundant human Qi.
Heaven's Will had even hidden a trap here:
Anyone who knew the nature of the Thousand Wish Tree would surely be impatient to transplant it into a bustling market.
But plants and living beings must adapt to their environment gradually. Suddenly moving from a barren desert to a place of peak human Qi would only be counterproductive, causing it to wither at best or die at worst.
To this end, Yuan Fang proceeded step by step.
He first transplanted the Thousand Wish Tree into a man-made desert within the Great Love Blessed Land, then slowly adjusted the surrounding environment to make the soil and water more temperate.
Then he established a village there, which expanded into a small town, then into a small city, and finally into the great Wujiang City...
Step by step, slowly accumulating, it eventually became the prosperous metropolis of Wujiang City, home to a million people.
As the human Qi in the city became increasingly prosperous, the Thousand Wish Tree's growth cycle shortened and its growth became more vigorous.
Yuan Fang even made a startling discovery from it:
This tree possessed supreme growth potential. In the future, it was highly likely to transform and advance into an immemorial desolate plant of the Rank Eight Human Path. At that time, the Thousand Wish Tree would become—the Ten Thousand Wish Tree.
Today's Wujiang City had crisscrossing streets and bustling markets, with a million people living there.
With Peoples Hearts Are Drawn To as the core Killer Move, it could gather the human will of the million people in the city to boost the power of various Killer Moves.
For example, the city's strongest Human Path Mortal-level defensive Killer Move, United as One, when infused with a million thoughts, had power approaching an Immortal Path Killer Move and was unbreakable.
The city was filled with star gate gu and hole earth gu, connecting it to all directions—
Southern Border's White Bone Mountain Gu Yue Village, Shang Liang Mountain Shang Family City, Golden Mountain Gu Yue Village, Purple Gloom Mountain Gu Yue Village, Tombstone Mountain Gu Yue Village...
It also connected to Central Continent's Great Love Sect, as well as the Ten Great Ancient Sects like Immortal Crane Sect, Spirit Affinity House, Heavenly Lotus Sect, Combat Immortal Sect, Ancient Soul Sect, and Wind Cloud Manor, making travel easy and connecting the Five Regions.
In addition, it also connected to the subsidiary Sects and smaller forces of the other Ten Great Ancient Sects in Central Continent.
For instance, the Immortal Crane Sect's former subsidiary, the Juntian Sword Sect, gained the confidence to stand as an equal to the Immortal Crane Sect after producing a third Gu Immortal.
Shops lined the streets of Wujiang City, and it was bustling with people.
The Great Love Sect even opened its own Sect shop, specifically selling courage gu. Only five thousand were sold each month, drawing countless Mortal Gu Masters from all over the world.
Figures from all sides, such as the Wu Family Clan Chief Lady Wu Ji, Shang Family Clan Chief Shang Yan Fei, Pink Butterfly Young Master Kong Ri Tian, Xiao Family Clan Chief Xiao Shan, and the second-generation Zombie King, all lingered here.
Besides them, the Four Great Lechers of Central Continent, Spirit Affinity House's favored daughter Feng Jin Huang, the child of Luck Hong Yi, and others also gathered in the city.
The star gate gu connected various families and Sects, and it was because of this that Kong Ri Tian and the Four Great Lechers of Central Continent met by chance.
"Yo! It turns out we are kindred spirits!"
Kong Ri Tian narrowed his eyes, a frivolous and unrestrained smile on his face. Dressed in the practical short-sleeved attire of a Southern Border Gu Master, his gaze swept unscrupulously over the four people before him.
"Hehehe, I am Kong Ri Tian of the Southern Border, nicknamed the 'Pink Butterfly Young Master'. If you gentlemen ever come to the Southern Border, I will surely capture some beauties with icy skin and jade bones for us to enjoy together!"
"Hahahaha! One is not enough!"
One of the four opposite him laughed loudly, his face full of flesh and his eyes lewd.
"The four of us are from Central Continent, collectively known as the Four Great Lechers of Central Continent! If you come to our Central Continent territory, we will capture a group of beautiful female Disciples from Spirit Affinity House for you to enjoy to your heart's content!"
This person was none other than the Eastern Lecher, Chen Yin Dao.
Just then, the thin one among the four, the Southern Flirt Shi Bao, suddenly had his eyes light up. He reached out and poked Chen Yin Dao and Kong Ri Tian's arms hard, nodding toward the corner of the street.
"Brother Kong, look! Tsk tsk... what a stunning beauty! It would be a pity not to have a go at her."
Kong Ri Tian followed his gaze and immediately saw that figure in green. His expression changed instantly, and he reached out to cover Shi Bao's mouth, urgently whispering in a low voice:
"Do you want to die? That is the pearl in the palm of the Shang Family Clan Chief—Shang Xin Ci!"
"So what? I've even touched elite female Disciples of Spirit Affinity House!" Shi Bao muttered while struggling, his face full of disdain.
"Sigh! You really don't understand!" Kong Ri Tian lowered his voice even more, his eyes flickering.
"We are currently in the territory of the Great Love Sect. The founder of this Great Love Sect, Gu Yue Fang Yuan, has an old entanglement with Shang Xin Ci!"
As Kong Ri Tian was speaking, a passing Southern Border Gu Master also inexplicably leaned in, a mischievous grin on his face.
"That information of yours is long outdated."
"I've even heard that the current Great Love Sect Leader, Ancient Moon Fangxiang, is the flesh and blood of Gu Yue Fang Yuan and Shang Xin Ci! Hehehe... Kong Ri Tian, if you dare to set your sights on her, are you tired of living?"
Kong Ri Tian waved his hand: "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. I was just telling these four kindred spirits from Central Continent."
(Fang Zheng:???)
"You are being too insolent!"
An angry shout suddenly rang out, interrupting the group's foul language.
The one who spoke was the young Gu Master standing beside Shang Xin Ci—Ye Fan.
Kong Ri Tian, the Four Great Lechers, and that Southern Border Gu Master who had inexplicably joined in froze. Knowing they were in the wrong, they turned and left dejectedly.
Ye Fan was a rare child of Luck in the world. He had always silently admired Shang Xin Ci, serving as her devoted protector.
"Hmph! These despicable lechers! Young Miss Xin Ci, let me go and teach them a lesson! These short-sighted Little People..."
Ye Fan glared at the departing backs of the group, his Gu power faintly surging. Beside him, Shang Xin Ci hurriedly tried to dissuade him in a soft voice:
"Brother Ye Fan, stop. They are all Rank Four Gu Masters. If you rush forward, you will only get hurt for nothing."
"Besides, Demonic Path Gu Masters also have their own difficulties. Most of them have no one to rely on and no Family protection; they are truly pitiable people."
"Brother Ye Fan, please promise me not to put yourself in danger for my sake."
Hearing Shang Xin Ci's gentle and caring words, Ye Fan's heart rate suddenly accelerated, and his face turned slightly red.
The maidservant Xiao Die beside them couldn't help but mutter: "Miss, you are just too kind-hearted. If it were me, I would definitely ask the Clan Chief to capture all these lechers and punish them severely!"
"Xiao Die, Father is the Shang Family Clan Chief and is busy with a thousand things every day. Clan matters are more important; how can we disturb him over such a small thing?"
Just as Shang Xin Ci finished speaking, a commotion suddenly broke out in the surrounding crowd, growing from small to large, and in an instant, it swept through the entire Wujiang City.
Shang Xin Ci subconsciously looked up.
Above Wujiang City, two figures slowly flew past.
The one in the lead had a black robe fluttering in the wind, jet-black hair falling to his waist, a slightly pale complexion, and eyes as indifferent as ice, devoid of any emotion—
It was Gu Yue Fang Yuan, who was activating the Familiar Face Killer Move.
The original Fang Yuan had turned from a male to a female body due to the Yin Yang Reincarnation Immortal Gu, but now, with Familiar Face, he had disguised himself back to his original appearance.
The reason everyone in the city could recognize him immediately was that flying was strictly forbidden above Wujiang City. Only Gu Immortals could fly over Wujiang City.
Furthermore, Fang Yuan always wore a black robe with his hair loose, which was a distinct feature recognizable at a glance.
"Now, do I not even have the qualification to look at him..."
Shang Xin Ci looked at that black-robed figure standing in the air, her mind flooded with a thousand thoughts. She couldn't help but remember the black-clothed youth who had reached out to help her during her time of distress years ago.
Not far away, Feng Jin Huang also looked up at Fang Yuan, a faint blush appearing on her beautiful cheeks.
She would never forget that moment on the peak of Soul Searching Mountain several years ago, when she saw the youth's full appearance in one glance.
At this moment, Fang Yuan appeared in the Great Love Blessed Land's Wujiang City, having just returned from refining the immortal gu Gold Devouring Insect.
Returning from the Gu Refining site to the Great Love Blessed Land, he happened to pass through Wujiang City. Since he was already here, he paused to look down at the entire city.
Fang Yuan hovered in mid-air, activating a Mortal-level investigative Killer Move to scan the area.
The first one to fall into his field of vision was Feng Jin Huang.
At just three years old, Feng Jin Huang had obtained the Dream Wings Immortal Gu in a dream; her Dream Path talent was world-shaking.
According to the prophecy of the Three Venerables left by One Word Immortal, a Great Dream Immortal Venerable would be born in the future, becoming the strongest among all the past Venerables.
And the Feng Jin Huang before him was the destined future Great Dream Immortal Venerable.
Generally speaking, those destined for the position of Immortal Venerable or Demon Venerable had Luck that was majestic to the extreme.
Fang Yuan wanted to see with his own eyes just how powerful the Luck of this future Great Dream Immortal Venerable was.
Perhaps due to the influence of the Northern Plains Hundred Days Battle, the Great Dream Immortal Venerable's Dao Protector Feng Jiu Ge was very likely to perish. Although Feng Jin Huang's Luck was still substantial, it was far from reaching the peak level Fang Yuan had expected.
While observing Feng Jin Huang's Luck, Fang Yuan also noticed several others in the city with thick Luck—
Ye Fan, Hong Yi, Han Li, Shang Yan Fei, Xiao Yan, Kong Ri Tian... and... Shang Xin Ci?
At a glance, Fang Yuan was slightly shocked.
Shang Xin Ci's Luck was more prosperous than imagined, clearly possessing the true potential for Immortal Ascension.
On the other hand, Ye Fan beside her possessed the top-tier Luck of Nine Dragons Protecting a Golden Coffin, making him a person of great Luck recognized by heaven and earth.
But even so, the density of his Luck was still far inferior to Shang Xin Ci's.
What surprised Fang Yuan even more was that although Ye Fan had been by Shang Xin Ci's side for a long time, his own Luck had not been drained away; instead, it was being faintly protected and nourished by Shang Xin Ci's Luck, a rare phenomenon.
"Shang Xin Ci actually possesses such majestic Luck..." Fang Yuan was secretly amazed.
Unfortunately, his continuous luck immortal gu had already been lent to Qin Bai Sheng; otherwise, he would definitely connect his Luck with Shang Xin Ci now to seize this amazing Luck.
However, who said that to leech Luck one must rely on the continuous luck immortal gu? Could Fang Yuan not just leech off the person?
With this thought, Fang Yuan descended from the sky and landed before the crowd.
The breeze stirred, and the black hair at his temples fluttered gently. In those eyes that were usually cold and heartless, a trace of imperceptible softness actually appeared.
His gaze fell upon the woman in green, and his voice was calm yet carried a weight that spanned years:
"Young Miss Xin Ci, long time no see."
"Black... Brother Black Earth..."
Happiness came too suddenly.
Shang Xin Ci's cheeks instantly flushed. Always steady and dignified, her mind was now in total disarray, and her speech became broken.
Parted for several years, longing for him was like the passage of a millennium.
When old friends met again, their statuses were already as different as clouds and mud, but the longing buried deep in her heart had never dissipated.
A hundred years of life eventually return to dust; the path to immortality is long, and one must search high and low. If one cannot become an immortal, they are ultimately just a fleeting firework in the Mortal world.
Fang Yuan did not stay long.
He only gave Shang Xin Ci a deep look, then turned and left without looking back.
The black-robed figure gradually moved further away, vanishing into the crowd in an instant.
Shang Xin Ci stood in place, her heart surging with emotion.
It was only at this moment that she truly recognized her own feelings—she had long ago, unknowingly, fallen in love with Gu Yue Fang Yuan.
But when she looked up again, that black-clothed figure was already gone.
"Brother Black Earth... the path to immortality is long, please take care." she murmured softly, her expression complex.
The maidservant Xiao Die giggled beside her and teased: "Miss, you wouldn't happen to have fallen for Lord Black Earth, would you?"
Shang Xin Ci remained silent.
Ye Fan quickly spoke up to smooth things over: "Xiao Die, don't talk nonsense."
"We are just Mortals, while Lord Fang Yuan is already a high and mighty Gu Immortal. The difference between immortal and Mortal is like an insurmountable chasm."
"I heard that Giant Sun Immortal Venerable and his first love Zhu Zhu could not produce a single offspring because of the difference between immortal and Mortal. As a result, Giant Sun Immortal Venerable later created the Yin Yang Path and refined the First Child Gu, Second Child Gu, Third Child Gu..."
"We should hurry; if we're any later, the courage gu will be sold out."
To be continued...
In the original work, the reason Shang Xin Ci fell in love with Fang Yuan was because of the trip to Shang Liang Mountain and the years spent together in Shang Family City.
But here, the original months-long trip to Shang Liang Mountain was shortened to a few days.
And during the time Fang Yuan lived in Shang Family City, he did not frequently cultivate feelings with Shang Xin Ci, nor was there the life-and-death bond from the original work.
If Shang Xin Ci were to fall in love with Fang Yuan here, it would be logically inconsistent.
But with Fang Yuan holding the attitude gu and the Familiar Face Killer Move, combined with his own superb acting skills, everything can be explained.
I once heard a saying like this:
Bai Ning Bing wants a spectacular Fang Yuan;
Star Constellation Immortal Venerable wants a great love Fang Yuan;
Xue Er wants a powerful Fang Yuan;
Lady White Rabbit wants a domineering Fang Yuan;
Feng Jin Huang wants a gentle Fang Yuan;
Xie Han Mo wants a kind Fang Yuan;
Little Fox Immortal wants a Fang Yuan who won't leave;
Tie Ruo Nan wants a dead Fang Yuan;
But what Shang Xin Ci wants is simply Fang Yuan.