The Fang family's history could be called long and storied.
As a supreme power in the Western Desert, the Fang family was renowned throughout the world for operating Gu Houses. They had always possessed their own Wisdom Path inheritance.
This was because Gu Houses, whether mortal or immortal, were fundamentally Immortal Path killer moves — formed by combining various Gu Insects into fixed configurations that served both offensive and defensive purposes.
The Fang family's operation of Gu Houses, and the design of new ones, was essentially the derivation of new Immortal Path killer moves. Without profound attainment in the Wisdom Path, this was clearly impossible.
It could even be said that the Fang family's Wisdom Path inheritance was exceptional, and after accumulating knowledge across generation after generation, it held great reference value even for Fang Yuan, who had obtained Spectral Soul's True Inheritance.
Of course, even the finest Wisdom Path inheritance depended on whether the inheritor was worthy of it.
In this generation of the Fang family, Fang Ti Chang was not merely worthy — he had elevated the family's Wisdom Path inheritance to new heights, achieving the status of Wisdom Path Grandmaster!
It should be known that his attainment as a Grandmaster was not achieved through some Dream Realm exploit, but through painstaking personal study, advancing step by step.
The Fang family had produced Wisdom Path successors in every generation, but in nearly a thousand years, Fang Ti Chang was the only one to reach the level of Wisdom Path Grandmaster.
Achieving this realm required extraordinary talent and aptitude. It could not be brute-forced through resources alone.
Fang Yuan exchanged several sentences with Fang Ti Chang, and both spoke with razor-sharp words, like two sword masters clashing in a confined space.
Fang Yuan gradually found himself at a disadvantage, feeling the situation grow thorny.
"As expected of a Wisdom Path Grandmaster — impressive, truly impressive." After testing the waters, Fang Yuan found that every trick that had just moments ago driven Fang Huasheng into a miserable corner was now deftly neutralized by Fang Ti Chang without the slightest change in expression. None of his verbal traps had any effect whatsoever.
Fang Ti Chang's thoughts were crystal clear, his memory sharp, his reasoning methodical. There was absolutely no possibility of him being confused by Fang Yuan's words.
When ordinary people conversed, it was like playing chess — thinking two or three moves ahead. Certain things were left unsaid, and certain things required emphasizing key points to prevent them from being exploited.
But communication between Wisdom Path Gu Immortals was not a matter of two or three moves — it was two or three hundred, five or six hundred, even a thousand moves ahead.
Fang Yuan's negotiation with Fang Ti Chang not only involved their respective interests and the specific content of the deal, but also real-time analysis — how the Bean God Palace situation stood, the Fang family's current circumstances, and even the broader state of the Western Desert.
It was practically a debate!
This was far beyond what a single human mind could process. It required Wisdom Path techniques — a ceaseless torrent of thoughts, debating on one hand while calculating on the other.
Fang Leng, Fang Yun, and the others listened with mouths agape, feeling that both of these men were monsters. Their minds moved with lightning speed, seemingly without any need for deliberation, and yet their words would suddenly erupt like a flash of sword light, leaving one utterly unable to parry. Compared to them, they themselves felt positively stupid.
"I have relatively few Wisdom Path Dao Marks, and while I possess Immortal Gu, nearly all of them were acquired only recently. Moreover, they are incomplete, with portions missing. Compared to my opponent, my foundation is simply not deep enough."
"If I ever need to fight the Fang family in the future, I must first find some way to kill this man!"
In terms of Wisdom Path methods, Fang Yuan was inferior to Fang Ti Chang. But in terms of raw combat power, Fang Yuan could withstand a Eighth Transformation expert — naturally surpassing Fang Ti Chang by a wide margin.
Fang Ti Chang was also making his own assessment: This man's Wisdom Path cultivation was truly impressive, full of talent. If the family could recruit him, it would be a blessing for the Fang family!
He had developed a genuine appreciation for Fang Yuan's abilities.
Had he known Fang Yuan's true identity, and the killing intent currently brewing in Fang Yuan's heart, who could say what he would feel?
"Hahaha." Amid the fierce exchange, Fang Yuan suddenly burst into loud laughter.
The Fang family Gu Immortals were all somewhat baffled — what was so funny all of a sudden?
Fang Yuan bowed respectfully to Fang Ti Chang. "I have long heard of Senior Fang's reputation. Meeting you today, the reputation proves well-deserved. Suan Bu Jin offers his respects."
Fang Yuan's sudden change in attitude left everyone secretly puzzled. What was even more puzzling was that Fang Yuan then proactively lowered his own conditions.
"Earlier, I was upset about being schemed against, so I was just making things difficult out of spite. Now that I've found I'm outmatched, how could I fail to know my place?" Fang Yuan's expression remained cold — even his apology carried an air of arrogance.
"Oh? I see — this man is proud, and I've managed to slightly impress him. His earlier behavior was merely an act of revenge. Now that he's seen my strength, he's somewhat won over." Fang Ti Chang's eyes flickered, his interest growing even more fervent. "This man's temperament is such that he doesn't blindly resist those more capable than him. Recruiting him into the Fang family seems quite promising. But for now, the Bean God Palace takes priority — I'll set him aside for the moment."
Since Fang Yuan stepped back, there were no further disputes between the two sides, and a new alliance treaty was quickly settled.
The treaty was extremely rigorous, with no loopholes to speak of. Even Fang Yuan secretly frowned — the clauses interlocked so tightly that rashly using the Keep Pure Gu might constitute a breach. Breaking free from its constraints would not be simple; it would require advance preparation and a great expenditure of energy and resources.
Of course, Fang Yuan was bound by this, and so was the Fang family.
With the treaty sealed, their relationship moved to a closer level, and the gazes of Fang Leng, Fang Yun, and the others toward Fang Yuan grew considerably warmer.
"Securing the Bean God Palace is a matter of great importance. Having Fellow Immortal Suan Bu Jin's full assistance is a blessing for our Fang family. Please, come with me to Askford Wharf to help oversee things. We will need to rely on your strength in the days ahead." Fang Ti Chang extended the invitation.
Fang Yuan inwardly rolled his eyes.
Even after the treaty was signed, Fang Ti Chang still didn't trust him — he wanted to keep him where he could watch, tethered at his side.