With Fang Yuan's successful withdrawal, the matter of entering Taiqiu and setting up the teleportation Gu formation came to an end.
The Langya Earth Spirit did not shortchange him either. Afterwards, he awarded him the promised reward — a total of six hundred sect contributions.
With these contributions, Fang Yuan could exchange for many things. What attracted him most were the numerous Immortal Gu recipes for the Transformation Path stored in Langya Sect's vault.
Langya Sect possessed three great true inheritances, originating from three legendary powerhouses: Immortal Venerable Ju Yang, Demonic Venerable Dao Thief, and Ancestor Chang Mao. There was no true inheritance for the Transformation Path, but Langya Sect's collection of Immortal Gu recipes was vast, and it included many Transformation Path Immortal Gu recipes.
However, Fang Yuan was in no hurry to spend his sect contributions to obtain them.
He chose to keep all these sect contributions in his own hands for the time being.
Now was not the time to exchange for Transformation Path Immortal Gu recipes and refine other Transformation Path Immortal Gu.
The timing was not yet ripe.
After the secret deal with Shadow Sect and his trip to Taiqiu, Fang Yuan had an even clearer picture of his own situation!
Although he had successfully set up the teleportation Gu formation, allowing him to travel rapidly between Langya Blessed Land and Taiqiu, Fang Yuan no longer wanted to personally enter Taiqiu.
Going back there would be far too dangerous.
"The Dark Crossing Immortal Gu's power has completely faded. Even after waiting a period of time and being able to use it again, it wouldn't be safe. Heaven's Will can also think — the last time still caught it off guard. Besides, setting up the Gu formation couldn't be concealed, so Heaven's Will knows about this. It will surely influence the surrounding wild beasts, ancient wild beasts, and even primordial wild beasts in Taiqiu through gradual, imperceptible means!"
Since Heaven's Will was doing everything in its power to eliminate Fang Yuan, he didn't need to guess. Next, Heaven's Will would definitely make all manner of arrangements in Taiqiu, centered around the primordial wild elephant's corpse, setting up layer upon layer of traps.
It would be better for Fang Yuan not to go.
However, while he wouldn't go, Langya Sect would take action there.
"Since the Langya Earth Spirit has accepted my suggestion, he will mobilize many hairy man Gu Masters to also cultivate the Transformation Path."
"Cultivating the Transformation Path requires refining Transformation Path Immortal Gu, and refining Immortal Gu requires immortal materials."
"Langya Sect's vault, though rich and containing quite a few immortal materials, had been under the management of the previous Langya Earth Spirit for many years. That Earth Spirit was the most diligent when it came to refining Gu, which meant that while the vault still held a fair number of immortal materials, most were of the Eighth Transformation and quasi-Ninth Transformation level. Sixth and Seventh Transformation immortal materials were scarce."
"Therefore, the Langya Earth Spirit will soon issue sect tasks, encouraging hairy man Gu Masters to venture into Taiqiu and slay wild beasts. First, to gather immortal materials for refining Gu, and second, to hone the hairy man Gu Masters' combat ability. The second point, in particular, has always been the Langya Earth Spirit's greatest concern!"
"Let these hairy man Gu Masters serve as my vanguard pawns. Even if Heaven's Will targets them, that's better than Heaven's Will targeting me directly."
A cold gleam flickered deep within Fang Yuan's eyes.
Though Langya Sect's overall strength far exceeded his own, at this moment, he had become the chess player, while the entirety of Langya Sect had become his chess pieces.
What was even better was that although Fang Yuan had schemed against Langya Sect, what he proposed was also the correct developmental direction for the sect's benefit. This meant it wouldn't violate the oath he was bound by.
"This is the hierarchical advantage formed by asymmetric intelligence. That's where the strategic edge lies." Fang Yuan sighed, once again grasping the advantages of the Information Path.
Gu Masters practiced various paths, each with its own strengths.
The Information Path might seem unremarkable among them.
But when properly leveraged, the advantages the Information Path brought to a Gu Master were actually greater than most other paths!
Of course, this particular instance of asymmetric intelligence was entirely a benefit Fang Yuan had gained from his deal with Shadow Sect.
And for the intelligence about Heaven's Will and Langya Sect that Shadow Sect had obtained, they must have paid a very steep price.
"My methods in the Information Path have always been lacking. From now on, I must make up for this deficiency!" Fang Yuan resolved silently.
Information Path Gu Masters excelled at intelligence gathering, covenant establishment, and knowledge transmission. At first glance, it might not seem like much, but when truly applied to cultivation, it could build up a truly enormous advantage.
Central Continent. Earth Abyss.
The sound of booming reverberated within.
"A discovery!"
"In that direction — I've searched it no fewer than ten times already… It really was hidden deep."
Gu Masters of the Gu Soul Sect immediately reacted, their expressions excited, and rushed toward the source of the booming.
Ying Wu Xie spat out a mouthful of blood, half-kneeling on the ground. His complexion was not only haggard, but he had sustained severe injuries — nearly half his body was gone.
"Just a mere Immortal Zombie…" The Gu Soul Sect Gu Master who had been fighting Ying Wu Xie hovered in midair, looking down at Ying Wu Xie below with undisguised contempt.
"Take him alive!"
"Even if he's an Immortal Zombie, his concealment technique is truly one of a kind. We must interrogate it for the sect."
The other two Gu Masters shouted as they cut through the air and rushed over at great speed.
Ying Wu Xie suddenly let out a mocking, cold laugh: "You want my concealment technique? Fine — I'll tell you right now!"
Not good!
The three Gu Soul Sect Gu Masters' expressions changed simultaneously as they realized this was the enemy's scheme.
Ying Wu Xie had deliberately lost in order to lure all three of them over.
This was a trap.
Where there was a lure, there would inevitably be an ambush to follow.