Fang Yuan's expression turned cold as he flatly refused, "No, 83% is not my plan. My plan is 90%!"
"Nothing in the world goes as you wish. How can everything be smooth sailing? Young man, you have been blinded by profit, your mind is heating up." The land spirit said calmly.
Fang Yuan silently cursed. Without the land spirit's help, he couldn't mobilize the immortal essence at all. The land spirit was already starting to waver; Fang Yuan had to convince it again.
"Ba Gui." Fang Yuan let out a breath of turbid air and softened his tone. "A slight excess in immortal essence consumption is no big deal. I still have some reserved immortal essence in my plan."
In Fang Yuan's plan, he divided the immortal essence into sixteen parts.
Eight parts were for refining Gu, four parts to support the Three Kings Inheritance. Slightly more than three parts were for killing Gu Masters. The remaining less than one part of immortal essence was reserved for emergencies.
Fang Yuan was meticulous and had planned this for a long time; how could he not have a backup plan?
But the land spirit was not convinced. Although it was formed from obsession, it also possessed wisdom and could think.
"Young man, your calculations are actually wrong. Have you considered the possibility of failure in the Gu refining process? You cannot avoid failure; once you fail, you waste immortal essence. Eight parts of immortal essence for Gu refining is already tight. The remaining less than one part is exactly for wastage, allowing you multiple attempts. If you use up that now, and if you fail just a few too many times during refining, the second aperture Gu will definitely not be successfully refined," the land spirit retorted.
Fang Yuan was secretly anxious. He had not yet passed the trial and was not the master of the blessed land. He could not directly command the land spirit.
If the land spirit did not cooperate, he had no other way.
Currently, in the blessed land, there was a fifth-turn Gu Master and many fourth-turn experts. These would be mortal enemies when he refined Gu soon.
Killing these people now would be eliminating opponents in advance and protecting himself.
But the remaining immortal essence in the blessed land was too little. Fang Yuan had to rack his brains and be very careful. At the same time, he had to face the land spirit's strict scrutiny.
"Young man, don't take risks. If you insist on going your own way, I will not cooperate with you and will even revoke your qualification for the trial and give the opportunity to others," the land spirit said in a firm tone.
Hearing this, Fang Yuan couldn't help but sigh deeply.
Land spirits were very stubborn; under such circumstances, convincing it was almost impossible.
"I may not eliminate the others, but that remaining fifth-turn Gu Master must die. He is one of the four great physicians of Southern Border and has a strong influence. He must be eliminated for safety," Fang Yuan tried his best to argue.
"For safety during refining, you have already arranged for that girl. Combined with the dog beast, she can fend off attacks for a while. At that time, I will also protect you with my life. What truly matters is the success or failure of your Gu refining," the land spirit rejected Fang Yuan's proposal.
Fang Yuan's expression darkened.
The remaining fifth-turn Gu Master was Qiu Jiu, known as the Killer‑Healer. Although his combat power was not well‑known, he had great influence.
In his past life memories, Qiu Jiu went to Yi Tian Mountain, joined the demonic path, and rose to become the third seat. With a wave of his arm, countless demonic Gu Masters gathered.
Under his treatment, the demonic side's casualties sharply decreased and morale was boosted, causing great headaches for the righteous.
It was only when Shang Yanfei invited the Pure Hand Healer from Shang Clan City, together with the Saint Hand Healer, that they barely suppressed Qiu Jiu's influence.
The battle of Yi Tian Mountain made the world realize Qiu Jiu's prowess. The Killer‑Healer was recognized as the foremost of the four great physicians.
After Yi Tian Mountain was conquered by the righteous, Qiu Jiu was captured. The Wu clan patriarch, pitying his talent, wanted to recruit him. But Qiu Jiu refused to surrender, bitterly cursing Shang Yanfei and the Pure Hand Healer, exposing an old grievance. In the end, an infuriated Shang Yanfei killed him on the spot.
Every fifth‑turn Gu Master was an extraordinary person, not to be underestimated.
These Gu Masters stood out from the masses, in such a cruel environment, through survival of the fittest, reaching the peak of the secular world. They were all exceptional heroes and bold figures.
Thinking that someone like Qiu Jiu would attack at the final juncture of Gu refining made Fang Yuan restless with worry.
"My cultivation base, though increased to the fourth‑turn advanced level and progressing at an astonishing speed, is still weak on such a big stage. I cannot compare with these fifth‑turn Gu Masters. If only I had my sixth‑turn cultivation from my past life, no matter how many fifth‑turns came, I would kill them all like slaughtering pigs and dogs!" Fang Yuan sighed inwardly.
"You still want to kill? Impossible! I won't allow it! The immortal essence cannot be wasted here; most of it must be reserved for Gu refining," the land spirit heard Fang Yuan's request and flatly refused. "Demonic Gu Masters are like this, they love to take risks. Sigh, young man, don't be too radical. In this world, why does the righteous path flourish and forever dominate the demonic path? It is because the demonic path is radical, too greedy, and walks into dead ends. The righteous path seeks stability, advances steadily, and remains unmoving."
"Ba Gui, you're wrong. It's not easy for the demonic path to survive. If not for being radical, and not striving for the maximum benefit in every opportunity, and not taking risks, how can they cultivate and fight against the righteous? The greed, selfishness, radicalness, and risk‑taking of the demonic path are precisely the survival rules of the demonic path. As long as the benefits are huge, what's wrong with walking on a tightrope over a cliff? One misstep and the whole game is lost, turning the impossible into possible – that's the brilliance of the demonic path! A demonic practitioner's life is like wine, strong and fragrant!" Fang Yuan argued loudly.
Upon hearing these words, the land spirit sighed repeatedly, "Young man, your demonic nature is already deep. If you don't turn back now, you will head toward destruction. Heaven's punishment is still survivable, but self‑inflicted destruction cannot be avoided."