ang Yuan inspected Beast Placenta Gu and discovered that it had already reached ninety-nine percent completion. This was the absolute limit — any further, and the incomplete Immortal Gu would be destroyed.
Yet Fang Yuan had already been satisfied once it reached ninety percent. Even so, he continued slaughtering Gu Masters from both the demonic and righteous paths.
Yun Luo Tian, Yi Huo, Wang Xiao, Mo Wu Tian, Wu Tong, Zhang San, Long Qing Tian, Wu Shen Tong, Yan Jun, Tao Zi, and countless lesser-known Gu Masters from both righteous and demonic factions all fell beneath his hands.
Fang Yuan obtained rank five Enslavement Gu as well as Sniff Heaven Gu. At the same time, he was already approaching the final step in refining Second Aperture Immortal Gu!
Throughout all this, the land spirit spent only a minuscule amount of immortal essence. Everything relied entirely upon the immortal formation Fang Yuan had created.
Precisely because of that formation, Fang Yuan managed to kill most of the Gu Masters who threatened him or represented uncertain variables. Killer Ghost Doctor was spared and enslaved by Fang Yuan, and now, without Mo Wu Tian, the entire demonic path was effectively under Chi Jiu's leadership.
Tie Ruo Nan and the four elders of Tie clan were also deliberately spared because Fang Yuan did not wish to ruin his plans. If he suddenly killed Tie Ruo Nan and the Tie clan Gu Masters, events would no longer proceed according to his intentions.
During this period, his luck was in a weakened state. Naturally, things would not unfold in ways beneficial to him. Thus, Fang Yuan eliminated Gu Masters capable of disrupting his schemes while preserving those whose actions remained predictable. And with Chi Jiu enslaved beneath him, Fang Yuan now possessed a hidden hand within enemy ranks, allowing him to influence their actions to a certain extent.
"Young man, you've been slaughtering Gu Masters for hours already. You've long since fulfilled Beast Placenta Gu's requirements and even surpassed the necessary limit. When do you intend to begin the final refinement of Second Aperture Gu?"
"Land spirit, we can begin refining Second Aperture Gu soon. But first, I need rest."
Fang Yuan's reply left Bai Gui dissatisfied, yet it could do nothing about it.
In its eyes, although this youth was somewhat arrogant, the refinement abilities he displayed were simply monstrous. He had even created a wondrous formation that greatly simplified the process, allowing the difficult steps within the recipe to pass with astonishing ease. Thus, even if it wished to choose another candidate, there simply was no better person on San Cha Mountain.
During the following days, Fang Yuan rested. However, he did not immediately begin refining Second Aperture Gu. Instead, he refined All-Out Effort Gu to rank four while also raising most of his Gu worms to rank four. At the same time, he deduced several strength path killer moves for offense along with defensive methods from the metal path.
None of this was difficult for him at all!
All Fang Yuan needed to do was follow his instincts, and killer moves would naturally take shape with ease. Afterward, all he needed was further refinement and practice.
He also used Golden Relic Gu to push his cultivation to peak rank four before effortlessly advancing into initial-stage rank five. However, he could not use Purple Crystal Relic Gu, as Bai Gui fiercely opposed it and repeatedly urged him to refine Second Aperture Gu instead.
Fang Yuan agreed without hesitation.
This time, the refinement of Second Aperture Gu officially began in earnest. Fang Yuan encountered some difficulties, mainly while processing immortal materials, but overall, everything progressed smoothly.
Fang Yuan had plenty of time to rest, and the speed at which he advanced the refinement left the land spirit utterly speechless! The number of times Fang Yuan made mistakes while processing materials could almost be counted on one hand, and those errors did not stem from a lack of skill, but rather from his shortage of refinement path Gu worms.
Yet even when he nearly failed, he would immediately recover, using one ingenious method after another to eradicate the problem at its root. Moreover, the remaining immortal essence reserves still amounted to ten portions — an extremely healthy amount. Fang Yuan could easily finish the refinement while still preserving nine portions afterward.
In the end, Fang Yuan completely refined the incomplete Immortal Gu.
The Gu resembled a beetle with a large and elegant abdomen, yet it possessed neither head nor tail, nor any legs or antennae. The incomplete Immortal Gu strangely appeared alive, faintly releasing an indescribable aura brimming with vitality.
Fang Yuan looked at the incomplete Immortal Gu before nodding in deep satisfaction.
"Even if I never refine Second Aperture Gu, this incomplete Immortal Gu alone could survive for thousands of years without issue."
But Fang Yuan had no intention of stopping. Instead, he ordered the land spirit:
"Bai Gui, activate the formation at full power. Now is the critical moment!"
Yet inwardly, Fang Yuan thought:
"Today is October twenty-second… I still have time before I attract the Gu Masters of both righteous and demonic paths."
"Young man, prepare yourself!"
In the next moment, Bai Gui activated the formation with its full strength, fixing the incomplete Immortal Gu in midair.
Fang Yuan inhaled deeply before taking out five hundred years' worth of Lifespan Gu.
Lifespan Gu was absolutely essential to the refinement process. Without it, refinement would fail completely. Even if the recipe changed, Lifespan Gu remained mandatory — only the required quantity differed.
The original recipe required eight hundred years of lifespan, while Fang Yuan's modified recipe required only five hundred.
That alone allowed him to preserve an additional three hundred years of lifespan as profit.
The Lifespan Gu, resembling ancient ginseng, flew into the bronze cauldron before melting into immortal essence. Splitting his attention, Fang Yuan lowered the incomplete Immortal Gu into the cauldron as well.
A blue cloud mass formed, flickering with the shapes of the phantom beasts Fang Yuan had used during the beginning of refinement. These beasts struggled desperately to escape the cauldron, but under the suppression of the immortal formation, they were completely restrained and gradually fused into the incomplete Immortal Gu.
Bai Gui continued maintaining the immortal formation. At that moment, Fang Yuan took out Divine Travel Immortal Gu.
Sweat instantly appeared across his forehead as an intoxicating fragrance spread through the air. The scent was so overwhelming that it affected Fang Yuan's mind, causing dizziness to seize him.
But the land spirit had already prepared for this, suppressing the power of Divine Travel Immortal Gu.
Fang Yuan regained his clarity and immediately retrieved the incomplete Immortal Gu from the bronze cauldron.
He exhaled slowly as he looked at the incomplete Immortal Gu, which now shimmered like a sphere of multicolored light while releasing an incredibly faint immortal aura. The incomplete Immortal Gu resembled a golden peanut.
Its quality was nearly perfect — it had even developed traces of an immortal aura.
Yet Fang Yuan remained dissatisfied.
Snorting coldly, he worked alongside the land spirit as Divine Travel immortal Gu transformed into glowing patches of light before merging into the golden peanut.
Fang Yuan spat blood while forcibly controlling the fusion process. The backlash assaulted him violently, but he gritted his teeth and pushed the process to completion.
A bloody smile appeared on his face as the incomplete Immortal Gu transformed.
The Gu radiated brilliant light while floating in the air without any fixed form. At times it resembled a multicolored cloud, while at others it became a vortex of light.
"You truly succeeded… only one final step remains! You truly are the Gu Immortal who came from the future, refined Second Aperture Gu, and even modified its recipe — remarkable indeed! I'll activate the formation now to complete the final step. You may rest, Master!"
Fang Yuan laughed inwardly before collapsing against the wall in utter exhaustion.
Yet he did not close his eyes. Instead, he took out four earthenware wine jars from which an intoxicating fragrance wafted.
The aroma resembled blooming flower fields during spring or warmth amidst the heart of winter. Merely smelling it allowed one to imagine countless beautiful scenes, enough to intoxicate someone into dreams without even taking a sip.
Fang Yuan watched Bai Gui activate the formation while using a method that accelerated time by consuming time path dao marks within the blessed land.
"This method is incredibly crude, but there's no other choice. I lack far too many materials — though materials themselves aren't the real issue. The real problem is time!"
During the previous days, Fang Yuan had spent his time refining his Gu to rank four so they would match his cultivation while also creating killer moves for defense and offense in preparation for the future. He had even found time to brew four varieties of premium wine that could practically be considered rank five refinement materials from the food path!
Brewing wine was easier than refining Gu, yet it still consumed considerable time. Every remaining moment had been devoted entirely toward refining Second Aperture Gu, and now he was finally witnessing the results.
The aura of rank six Immortal Gu rose like a boundless tide. It even surged out of the bronze hall before rebounding beneath the formation's influence and flooding the surrounding air.
Fang Yuan inhaled deeply.
The sphere of light suddenly froze before chunks of icy crystal began falling from the surface of the Immortal Gu, causing its aura to grow stronger than ever before!
Even Fang Yuan could not suppress a trace of excitement and anticipation toward the future after refining Second Aperture Gu.
Would he rise far beyond what he achieved in his previous life?
Would he toy with both Heaven and the Venerables alike, turning them into ignorant fools?
He did not know.
But he was certain that this life would undoubtedly be incredibly interesting.
The icy crystal fragments gradually shattered, revealing Second Aperture Gu, which flew toward Fang Yuan according to his will.
Smiling tiredly, Fang Yuan dripped several drops of blood onto Second Aperture Immortal Gu.
With the assistance of the land spirit, Second Aperture Gu transformed into a mass of light that flew toward his navel before settling there and forming a second aperture!
Bai Gui's voice trembled with excitement as it transmitted to Fang Yuan:
"Master is truly capable! You refined Second Aperture Gu and fulfilled my goal! From this day onward, you are the master of this blessed land!"
Fang Yuan ignored it completely.
Instead, he opened the four wine jars and, through sheer force of will, drank every last drop.
Bells rang throughout Fang Yuan's mind as dizziness overtook him, yet he endured it while sensing the second Immortal Gu forming within his body.
Divine Travel immortal Gu!