Southern Border.
The Ba Family, Great Mansion Mountain.
Ba Shiba carefully handled a First Transformation mortal Gu Insect, his eyes unblinking, his expression one of utmost focus: "This is the Second Orifice Gu?"
He examined it closely. The Gu Insect was shaped like a beetle — pointed at both ends, plump in the middle, as if carved from green jade, only the size of a fingertip. When he held it in his hand, it felt warm and cool to the touch. On its round, bulging back grew a single golden eyeball. The golden pupil darted about like lightning, brimming with spirit.
To obtain this Gu Insect, the Ba Family had practically emptied all the remaining fortune-path Immortal materials from their stores.
Fang Yuan had demanded an outrageous price, but Ba Shiba had no choice but to accept — because this tiny First Transformation Gu Insect represented all the courage and hope he had left to go on living!
The Second Orifice Gu was extremely convenient to use. It required no True Essence, no Immortal Essence at all. All one had to do was drip blood into the Gu Insect's body and wait until it had drunk its fill before it self-destructed, and the deed was done.
After the Second Orifice Gu self-destructed, a small orifice immediately formed in the center of Ba Shiba's chest.
This was a First Transformation Orifice — the lowest level of cultivation.
But when Ba Shiba saw it, his eyes reddened, and his body trembled with excitement.
"Even if that demon Fang Yuan charged a steep price, I accept it!"
"With this Orifice, I can resume cultivation. From First Transformation to Fifth Transformation, the She Li Gu will naturally lend me a hand. Once I reach the Sixth Transformation level, the Gu Immortal elders of the clan will help me survive the tribulation."
"Only achieving the foundation and accomplishment of the first Immortal Orifice — that would be difficult."
At this thought, Ba Shiba gritted his teeth, his heart filled with hatred for Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan had captured him, thoroughly searched his soul, and even taken his first Immortal Orifice. Even sending over the Second Orifice Gu was nothing more than extortion in a different form!
For Ba Shiba, who had once been an Eighth Transformation cultivator, this was an unspeakable humiliation.
"Fang Yuan, just you wait. Sooner or later I will settle this grudge. Every ounce of suffering you inflicted upon me, I will repay a hundredfold — and you can savor the taste yourself!"
Ba Shiba's expression was twisted with ferocity. These days had not been kind to him.
He had been the Grand Supreme Elder of the Ba Family, but after being captured by Fang Yuan, not only had his prestige plummeted, but after being ransomed back, he had become a cripple.
His situation was even worse than Xia Cha's.
Because during the period of his captivity, the Ba Family had gained another Eighth Transformation Gu Immortal.
That was Ba De!
After becoming an Eighth Transformation Gu Immortal, Ba De was immediately promoted to Second Supreme Elder of the Ba Family, taking charge of its affairs.
Ba Shiba had been stripped of his authority.
"Fortunately, there's this Second Orifice Gu!"
"I have abundant cultivation experience, having survived dozens of tribulations both large and small. Becoming an Immortal again will be easy — practically a sure thing."
"I need to seize the time and cultivate back to Gu Immortal as quickly as possible. After all, my influence will only dwindle as time passes. That influence must be used while it still can — it will surely be of great help to my cultivation."
Ba Shiba had long since planned ahead. He had already prepared the She Li Gu as well.
He used them one after another, swiftly advancing Ba Shiba to the Peak Stage of First Transformation.
But once he reached this point, no matter how Ba Shiba assaulted the orifice walls, they remained completely immovable.
"How can this be?"
"My cultivation is stuck! There's something wrong with this Second Orifice Gu!"
After investigating the situation, Ba Shiba was simultaneously shocked and furious. He felt he had been deceived — having paid an enormous price only to receive a counterfeit.
He hurriedly contacted the Gu Immortal elders who had once been close to him, demanding they immediately reach out to Fang Yuan and demand an explanation for what was going on.
Fang Yuan was studying the Primordial True Inheritance. His expression shifted slightly, and he smiled, a glint of cunning flashing through his eyes: "It seems they've already discovered something is off."
However, he had long been prepared for this, and promptly issued his response.
Upon receiving this reply, Ba Shiba was so enraged he smashed his favorite teacup: "Demon! This is too much!"
It turned out that in his previous correspondence, Fang Yuan had only stated that the Second Orifice Gu could open a second orifice, but had not mentioned any limitations on cultivation level. To mislead the Southern Border Gu Immortals further, Fang Yuan had even elaborated on his own experience and feelings from using the Second Orifice Gu.
Ba Shiba had naively assumed that with the Second Orifice Gu, he could ascend to Immortal status and cultivate back to his former self.
Xia Cha's side, on the other hand, had a wisdom-path Gu Immortal who identified the catch. Fang Yuan then told Xia Cha that the Second Orifice Gu had originally been an Immortal Gu, and after his modifications, he had formed a complete series ranging from First Transformation to Sixth Transformation. Using a First Transformation Second Orifice Gu limited one's cultivation to First Transformation — the same applied for Second, Third, all the way up to Sixth Transformation.
Xia Cha had wanted to directly purchase the Sixth Transformation version of the Second Orifice Gu, but Fang Yuan's reply left her speechless — "I'm currently only selling the First Transformation version!"
"It seems Ba Shiba's situation is even worse than Xia Cha's." Fang Yuan smiled. From the subtle details, he could perceive the anxiety gnawing at Ba Shiba's heart.
"It appears that Ba De has likely achieved Eighth Transformation, even though the Ba Family has kept it secret all this while."
"This is a good thing."
Although the Southern Border Gu Immortals bore an irreconcilable grudge against Fang Yuan, the two sides shared a common great enemy — Heavenly Court.
Heavenly Court wanted to repair the Destiny Gu. His previous life's experiences had already made Fang Yuan see clearly where the Southern Border Righteous Path stood.
Therefore, Fang Yuan had returned the Southern Border Gu Immortals' bodies and souls. He had absorbed their Immortal Orifices, yes, but he had also traded them the Second Orifice Gu.
His goal was to maintain the Southern Border Gu Immortals' combat strength at a sufficient level to trouble Central Continent's Heavenly Court.
Having endured so much, having weathered such hardships, Fang Yuan had finally emerged from beneath Heavenly Court's crushing oppression. He now possessed deep foundations, numerous subordinates, and had extended his reach into the politics of all Five Regions — openly and covertly employing every means at his disposal, ultimately constructing a grand strategy to encircle Heavenly Court!
Without anyone noticing, he had grown from a chess piece into a chess player.
"Fang Yuan, I wish I could eat your flesh and drink your blood!" Ba Shiba stared at the new reply, his entire body trembling with rage.