In the Yan Luo Battlefield, the two Gu Immortals stood facing each other.
Fang Yuan sighed. "Our time is limited, so I'll speak plainly: I want to make a deal with the Chi Family. I wonder if you're interested in my Dream Path research?"
Chi Qu You was momentarily stunned, and the frigid coldness in his gaze shifted.
"Dream Path? I didn't mishear just now?" A flash of fervent light blazed through Chi Qu You's eyes before vanishing.
That Fang Yuan possessed Dream Path research was hardly a secret anymore.
He had previously disguised himself as Wu Yi Hai specifically to make contact with dreamscapes. His ability to transform dreamscapes into real people had already been showcased during the Dream Battle, making countless supreme factions drool with envy.
Fang Yuan possessed the Spring Autumn Cicada and had returned through rebirth. Since the future belonged to the Dream Path, it was hardly surprising that he had grasped some of its mysteries.
It could be said that Fang Yuan's Dream Path research stood at the absolute pinnacle of the entire world, perched atop the summit of the Five Regions!
"The profundity of dreamscapes, the depths of the Dream Path — I have only taken a single small step forward. But if I were to tell Senior Chi that my attainment in the Formation Path was obtained from within a dreamscape, what would you think about that?" Fang Yuan smiled, his words light and airy, yet they struck Chi Qu You's mental lake like a boulder, sending waves crashing in every direction.
"Is that true?!" Chi Qu You's expression changed drastically, unable to maintain his composure any longer.
Fang Yuan laughed heartily. He had meticulously planned everything up to this point — suppressing Chi Qu You's momentum step by step — and by now he had completely seized control of the conversation's rhythm.
This was entirely different from his previous life.
Fang Yuan then produced a Information Path Gu Insect. "Please look at this as well, Senior."
Chi Qu You took it and his eyes blazed with light. His hand unconsciously tightened on the Information Path mortal Gu, afraid it might suddenly fly away.
The contents within the Information Path mortal Gu involved all manner of Dream Path mysteries — an irresistible temptation! Chi Qu You was quickly drawn in, finishing the contents in no time.
Chi Qu You licked his lips. In just a few moments, his mouth had gone dry.
He was utterly captivated.
Chi Qu You forced himself to calm down and feigned contemplation. "How do you want to structure the deal?"
"What I want is dreamscapes. You give me dreamscapes, and I give you future Dream Path research."
Chi Qu You didn't agree immediately. Instead, he said, "That would be difficult. After all, nearly every dreamscape in the Southern Border is jointly guarded by the Righteous Path."
Fang Yuan smiled. "Senior Chi, the dreamscape I need is at Yitian Mountain. Although the grand formation there has been completely restructured, it was still designed and laid out under your supervision. I'm also aware that there are multiple hidden passages within it. It would be quite convenient for your side to secretly extract some dreamscapes."
Hearing this, Chi Qu You's expression changed once more.
Fang Yuan actually knew so much about his situation! It was truly terrifying!
Those hidden passages within the Yitian Mountain grand formation were his pride and joy. He had laid them right under the noses of the many Righteous Path Gu Immortals in the Southern Border, exploiting their insufficient attainment in the Formation Path to set the passages down undetected.
"I thought I had concealed everything from everyone, only to have Fang Yuan see through it all."
"Hm, perhaps it wasn't just Fang Yuan… Sigh, I underestimated the heroes of this world."
Chi Qu You's mind raced with further speculation.
Fang Yuan had obtained this intelligence in his previous life, and its origin was Chi Qu You himself.
Using Chi Qu You against Chi Qu You — the results were truly excellent. Wasn't there a saying that one's greatest enemy was often oneself?
Step by step, Fang Yuan suppressed Chi Qu You until the latter had no power left to resist.
Every negotiation was a clash of its own — though devoid of the direct blows of real combat, it was still a contest of strength and a sparring match of strategy.
Compared to his previous life, Fang Yuan held far more cards in hand. He knew his enemy as he knew himself, and his strength had grown immensely. With that knowledge, coupled with his strategy of bluffing, the results were spectacular. Even someone of Chi Qu You's caliber had fallen into his trap.
The details of the deal were settled quickly, and the outcome naturally favored Fang Yuan enormously.
For Chi Qu You to agree to this deal, given his status, could be called nothing short of "humiliation."
But he was helpless. Fang Yuan had him completely cornered.
First, he had very few ways to deal with Fang Yuan. Attempting to truly oppose him carried far too high a risk with minimal visible reward.
Second, if he cooperated with Fang Yuan, Fang Yuan would stop plundering the Chi Family and even trade Dream Path research. The Dream Path research was simply too tempting for Chi Qu You.
Finally, Chi Qu You was still preoccupied with the so-called mole within the Southern Border's Righteous Path, and he desperately wanted to flush the traitor out. Perhaps he could make progress on this matter through Fang Yuan.
The Supreme Cavern Heaven, Small Southern Border.
A barren mountain, devoid of all vegetation, stood starkly upon the land. The ground around it was uneven, but even with its undulations, the variations were limited — at best forming some small hills. Set against these modest hills, the barren mountain appeared all the more towering and massive.
At this moment, atop the bare peak stood a Sixth Transformation Stone Person Gu Immortal, gazing upward at the sky.
"Since achieving a Cavern Heaven, the aura of this Immortal Cavern truly is vastly different from a Blessed Land!"
"How magnificent! This Supreme Cavern Heaven is so vast it defies reason, defies imagination — truly a miracle forged by the Demon Venerable You Hun!!"
Each time Shi Shi Cheng surveyed this world, he marveled inwardly.
This was greatness. This was a miracle. This was divine craftsmanship!
He was utterly, wholly in awe of the Demon Venerable You Hun, and he held not a single thought of rebellion against Fang Yuan.
Behind him, a group of Stone Person Gu Masters were whispering among themselves.
"After more than ten days of work, we've finally finished constructing this hill."
"It nearly killed me — up before dawn and working past dark every single day."
"Hearing that this hill was built on a personal order from that Supreme One himself…"
"To meet the deadline, we pushed the Gu Insects without rest for long periods. At least thirty Earth Path Gu Insects died…"
"Come to think of it, don't you think the success rate for refining Gu here is remarkably high?"
"As long as we finish the sect's tasks, there'll be rewards. I just hope the Supreme Gu Immortal Lord's rewards will be generous."
"Quiet! How dare you discuss that Lord behind his back?" The Stone Person Gu Immortal could tolerate no more and turned to rebuke them.
The Stone Person Gu Masters immediately lowered their heads, silent as cicadas in winter.
Just then, a flash of azure light and a figure descended, hovering in midair.
When the Stone Person Gu Masters saw who had arrived — Fang Yuan's Sixth Transformation Time Path clone — they were instantly struck with dread. They quickly dropped to their knees en masse, performing a grand bow.
"This subordinate greets the Lord!" Shi Shi Cheng hurriedly bowed as well, his attitude exceedingly respectful.
Fang Yuan's clone wore an expression of indifference. He nodded at Shi Shi Cheng and asked, "Is the grand formation here fully arranged?"
The tasks Fang Yuan had issued included not only the artificial mountain construction but also the placement of an Immortal-level grand formation within the mountain's interior.
Shi Shi Cheng promptly reported, "My Lord, following the formation diagrams you provided, this subordinate has completed the arrangement of this Fire Path grand formation. It only requires your activation now."
Fang Yuan had already extended his divine sense through the mountain to inspect it from within.
He nodded, fairly satisfied with what he had seen. He was about to dismiss these Stone People when he noticed Shi Shi Cheng hesitating as though he had something to say.
Though Shi Shi Cheng was only a Sixth Transformation cultivator, he had once fought Fang Yuan. His Immortal-level battlefield killer move, the Gray Cloud Stone Puppet, had left a deep impression on Fang Yuan — he was a talent.