"Young Hero Fang?" Wei Wushang's eyes narrowed instantly, looking at Fang Zheng beside Fairy Bi Xia.
"Greetings, I am Fang Zheng of the Immortal Crane Sect." Fang Zheng smiled slightly, cupped his hands in a salute, and exuded an air of friendliness.
"Young Hero Fang Zheng is an elite disciple of the Immortal Crane Sect. He placed first in this mid-year exam. He can control tens of thousands of cranes. Thanks to these celestial cranes, we were able to rush to Mount Tianti so quickly."
Fairy Bi Xia looked at Fang Zheng as she spoke. A shy blush appeared on her face, and her voice carried a hint of sweetness.
On the way here, they had a very pleasant and engaging conversation.
"Celestial cranes? These are just some iron-beak flying cranes, albeit in large numbers." A sharp light flickered in Wei Wushang's eyes. He was raging with jealousy towards Fang Zheng.
Gnashing his teeth, Wei Wushang raised one hand in a return salute. "Fang Zheng, you're an elite disciple of the Immortal Crane Sect? Excellent, excellent. I have long heard of your sect's famed crane control technique and have desired to cross swords with its practitioners. Please, do bestow your guidance today."
Having said that, Wei Wushang took a large step forward, his eyes blazing with a piercing glint as he stared down Fang Zheng.
Fang Zheng was slightly stunned, sensing the other's hostility, and found it inexplicable.
"Hahaha." The laughter of Heavenly Crane Elder rang out in his mind. "The grace of a beautiful woman is the hardest to bear. Disciple, by saving little Bi Xia, you have incurred the enmity of many. That lass Bi Xia is a true beauty. She clearly favors you now. You're in for big trouble. This Wei Wushang is your first challenger."
"Ah? Favors me?" Fang Zheng cried out in astonishment in his heart.
The topic of love caused his heart to tremble with grief.
All these years, the figure of a woman had resided in his heart.
She was just a mortal. Very ordinary, utterly incomparable to Fairy Bi Xia. But in Fang Zheng's heart, she was uniquely playful and adorable.
The tenderness he once shared with her was the most precious memory in his heart.
Regrettably, she had already withered and passed away, no longer in this world.
Her name was Shen Cui, once Fang Yuan's personal maid.
Thinking of Shen Cui, Fang Zheng's heart darkened. "The woman I loved is dead. Master, you know this. I have trained diligently all these years, my greatest goal being to defeat my brother and avenge our ancestors. To fulfill the dying wishes of my maternal uncle and aunt, of Shen Cui, of the clan leader, and of Lord Qing Shu. The Gu Yue Village was destroyed, but the Gu Yue Clan still has descendants!"
"Hahaha, my foolish disciple. Even if you intend that, this Wei Wushang will not let you off. You saved Fairy Bi Xia; how could you not have realized this by now?" Heavenly Crane Elder laughed.
"But... I don't want to spar with him. I have heard of Wei Wushang's reputation even in the Immortal Crane Sect. He is a healing Gu Master, the rising star of Heaven's Envy Tower, a true Grade-A genius. He specializes in healing himself. Often, after a fierce battle, he has not a single scratch on his body. Even if I beat him, my strength will be drained. It will also negatively affect my chances in the competition for the Gu Immortal inheritance." Fang Zheng frowned as he replied in his mind.
Heavenly Crane Elder let out a hearty laugh. "Don't worry. Just go all out. The Fox Immortal inheritance on Mount Tianti has its own mysteries. It's not a pure contest of combat strength, but a comparison of willpower and soul power. With my soul secretly assisting you, you have a huge advantage!"
He paused briefly and then continued, "You are still too young to understand the use of fame. Sometimes, fame is more convenient and useful than strength. This is a rare opportunity. Defeat these challengers and accumulate fame. Use the flying cranes, don't worry about their lives. The Immortal Crane Sect has plenty. If they are wiped out, you can just return to the sect and replenish them."
Hearing his master's words, Fang Zheng could only sigh deeply. He said to Wei Wushang, "If you wish to fight, then let's fight."
"Well said! Please." Wei Wushang sneered. He stamped his foot and shot into the sky like lightning.
Fang Zheng was not to be outdone. With a wave of his hand, he stepped onto the back of a crane. Tens of thousands of iron-beak flying cranes cried out in unison, as if welcoming their king.
A battle was imminent, and the people around couldn't help but get excited.
"Boss Fang Zheng, go! Smash that sissy from Heaven's Envy Tower!" the elite disciples of the Immortal Crane Sect shouted.
"Junior Brother Wei, teach this kid a good lesson." Wei Wushang naturally had his supporters too.
Wei Wushang nodded, a flame of battle burning in his eyes.
He was the leader of this generation's elite disciples in Heaven's Envy Tower. Fang Zheng's myriad cranes could intimidate ordinary elite disciples, but they couldn't scare him.
He also had his own unique trump card!
"Fight!" Wei Wushang suddenly urged the Gu worms within his body, flickering in the air and disappearing from the spot.
The next moment, space shattered. He crossed a distance of several hundred steps and appeared directly before Fang Zheng.
"The Space Breaker Gu?!" Even Heavenly Crane Elder was shocked.
A fierce battle erupted violently.
At the same time, at Sancha Mountain.