The ancient immortal Chen Chi slowly shook his head, bearing an air of immovability like a mountain. "What's the harm in letting him cool his heels a while longer? There's no rush."
Chen Lizhi said worriedly, "He's a sharp man. I'm afraid if we drag things out too long, we'll irritate him. If we push him away — push him over to Zheng Tuo's side — that would be terrible."
"Don't worry, Little Zhi." Chen Chi smiled faintly and analyzed, "The final test of the true inheritance requires that at least half of the Gu Immortals within the Hei Fan Grotto-Heaven support Hei Cheng for him to inherit it successfully. Right now, excluding Hei Cheng himself, there are nine of us. Our side has four people — almost half. That's an enormous bargaining chip. As long as he secures our support, he's practically won half the battle. He only needs to win over one more person's approval, and he'll succeed. He's not someone who would fail to consider this."
"Even if he gives up on us and goes to other Gu Immortals, he'll hit a wall. The situation has changed. After all, he's a newcomer here. To gain anyone's support, he'll have to offer concessions — there's always a price before you get anything. Besides, over at the Three Immortals Cave, heh heh, Zheng Tuo and his lot are ambitious creatures."
Chen Lizhi fell silent. Then Chen Wanyun spoke up. "Old Ancestor, to tell you the truth, Wanyun has been harboring a thought. If Hei Cheng fails to secure a majority, doesn't that mean he's failed? If the Hei Fan True Inheritance remains on Jixian Mountain, then someday our descendants will climb to the peak and seize it, won't they? We've guarded this Hei Fan True Inheritance for generation after generation. Even Old Ancestor Hei Fan himself acknowledged our right to compete for it. Are we really going to hand it over to an outsider?"
"Hei Cheng isn't an outsider — he's our own kin," Chen Le objected.
"Le'er, don't you forget — it was precisely this 'kin' who went off to enjoy prosperity and freedom in the outside world. While our branch has been imprisoned here, generation after generation, enduring untold suffering!" Chen Wanyun said sternly.
Chen Le's face twisted in bitterness, and he said nothing more.
Chen Chi slowly shook his head. "Yun'er's words... I've actually considered this approach long ago. It won't work."
"First, for mortals to brave Jixian Mountain is extraordinarily difficult. Even if we devoted ourselves to cultivating a successor, how long would we have to wait for a lucky soul to appear and inherit the true inheritance? Decades? Centuries? No one can say."
"Second, Hei Cheng may be one man, but don't forget — behind him stands the main Hei Family, along with a great number of Hei Family Gu Immortals. If he fails, it's only his personal failure. The Hei Family Gu Immortals will undoubtedly come wave after wave. And when that time comes, how will we stop the others? Shall we bar our own main family from entering? Can we even manage that? And apart from the four of us, can we truly trust Zheng Tuo and his people?"
None of these Gu Immortals in the Hei Fan Grotto-Heaven knew of the Bao Huang Heaven. For all these years, generation after generation, they had found no way to communicate with Bao Huang Heaven. So they knew absolutely nothing about the Hei Family's recent circumstances. Fang Yuan lied without batting an eye, spinning tales at will, and had all four Chen Family Gu Immortals thoroughly fooled.
Chen Chi's pointed questions made the other three immortals' faces change color one after another.
Chen Le chimed in, "That's right. Just today, Young Master Hei Cheng told me how difficult it was for him to stand out among the Hei Family Gu Immortals in competition. He said it wasn't easy at all. Even now, he still bears injuries."
Chen Chi nodded. Then he continued his analysis. "For Hei Cheng to have stood out from the crowd, he's clearly no ordinary person. He possesses Seventh Transformation cultivation in his own right, and with the Supreme Sky Eagle at his side, his prospects are vast. If we help him succeed, it would be like providing warmth in a snowstorm. When he eventually returns to the main family, with his backing we could secure our position properly. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
"However, our help won't come for free. He'll have to pay a price. Things obtained without cost are never cherished. Nor would he feel any gratitude toward us."
"The Old Ancestor's considerations are truly thorough," said Chen Lizhi.
"Listening to the Old Ancestor can never go wrong!" Chen Le said with a smile.
Chen Chi let out a long, wistful sigh and gazed at the three Gu Immortals. His voice grew tender. "I'm old. My remaining years are few. I only hope that you younger ones can have better days ahead. When my soul eventually passes through the Gate of Life and Death, I'll be able to rest in peace."
"Old Ancestor, please don't say such things. You'll surely live for a very, very long time!" Chen Le's eyes reddened.
Chen Lizhi, ever the pragmatist, said, "Old Ancestor, don't forget that this world has Longevity Gu! If he wants our support, that Hei Cheng will have to produce something of value. Longevity Gu would certainly have to be among them."
A glint of sharp light flashed deep in Chen Chi's eyes. He looked toward Chen Le. "Whatever Longevity Gu he offers, it should at least be enough to let our Le'er have her heart's wish — to be with her beloved."
Chen Le's face flushed scarlet. She shot to her feet with a stomp. "Old Ancestor, you — you're making fun of me!"
Hahaha...
Laughter echoed through the secret chamber.
Meanwhile, Fang Yuan stood in the courtyard of his residence, gazing up at the night sky.
The Hei Fan Grotto-Heaven had a clearly defined cycle of day and night. Days were long, nights were short.
This kind of celestial phenomenon was unique to grotto-heavens. Blessed lands generally did not possess it.
The night sky of the Hei Fan Grotto-Heaven was devoid of a single star. And it wasn't purely black, either — upon close inspection, it was actually a deep, dark green.
A gentle breeze blew. Fang Yuan stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the sky as his mind sorted through every piece of intelligence.
Over these past days, he had played along with Chen Le, putting on a show, and from this naive young thing he had extracted a great deal of precious information. His understanding of the Hei Fan Grotto-Heaven and the other Gu Immortals had become far clearer and more comprehensive.
Not only that, he had also gained a deeper level of insight into the trials of the Hei Fan True Inheritance.
"Almost time. Wait another two days, and the timing will be ripe," Fang Yuan thought to himself, a sliver of cold, cutting light hidden within his gaze.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
In the afternoon, brilliant sunlight bathed the palace, making it shine all the more magnificently.
A warm breeze caressed the face. Birds sang and flowers fragrant — a scene of perfect pleasantness.
Before Chen Chi's door, Fang Yuan's voice rang out. "This one pays an unannounced visit. I hope the immortal friend will not take offense."
"He couldn't hold back after all. Still, his patience was decent enough." Chen Chi was not surprised.
The entire palace complex was one enormous mortal Gu House. Every move Fang Yuan made was under his control.
The door opened of its own accord.
Chen Chi lay on the bed, propping his upper body up. He spoke in a feeble voice, "A distinguished guest arrives, but this old man regrets he cannot rise to welcome you."
Fang Yuan stepped inside and stood before the bed, his face full of concern. "It seems the immortal friend has been gravely injured. You are a Law Path Gu Immortal. I've racked my brain for quite some time and devised a method that might help alleviate your injuries."
As if Chen Chi truly had any injuries! "Your Eminence's concern is most appreciated, but I'm afraid this old man's injuries cannot be remedied by ordinary methods."
Fang Yuan smiled. "Immortal Friend Chen, you may not know. What I have is an Immortal Path Kill Move — a signature technique of the main family. Although the core Immortal Gu are still held within the clan, I am familiar with the kill move's contents. If I transmit this kill move to you, and you substitute the core, it may prove helpful for your injuries."
"How could I accept such a thing?" Chen Chi hurriedly declined.
Fang Yuan said warmly, "I felt an immediate kinship with Immortal Friend Chen from the moment we met, and these past days I've been imposing upon all of you. Transmitting a kill move would serve as a token of my gratitude."
"Your Eminence is too generous — this gift is far too heavy." Chen Chi continued to decline.
Fang Yuan's expression shifted, his tone turning melancholy. "What is a mere Immortal Path Kill Move in the face of my full sincerity? Sigh! To speak honestly, this final trial of the Hei Fan True Inheritance has me in a truly difficult position. I humbly ask Immortal Friend Chen for your guidance."
Upon hearing these words, Chen Chi's eyes flashed with a gleam of understanding. He recognized Fang Yuan's subtext — this was an exchange of interests. He was here to buy Chen Chi's support.
Chen Chi instinctively sat up straight and said, "In this old man's humble opinion, this matter is no different from Gu Refinement. When refining Gu, one must control the fire. Sometimes the fire must burn fierce; sometimes it must burn gentle. This mirrors the urgency or delicacy of the matter at hand. Hehe, forgive me — I've always been rather fascinated by the Refinement Path and have been rambling nonsense. Please don't take offense."
It wasn't just nonsense — it was utter, complete nonsense!
You're a Law Path Gu Immortal. What business do you have being interested in the Refinement Path?