She Li Gu were Gu Insects that could directly increase the depth of an Empty Orifice, pushing a Gu Master's cultivation realm upward.
From First Transformation to Fifth Transformation, there were respectively Bronze, Red Iron, Silver, Gold, and Amethyst She Li Gu. All She Li Gu were mortal Gu; there were no Sixth Transformation or above Immortal Gu among them.
The Bronze, Red Iron, and Silver She Li Gu circulated in massive quantities in the mortal world. But once it came to Gold She Li Gu and Amethyst She Li Gu, because they could directly impact the combat strength of Fourth and Fifth Transformation Gu Masters — and indirectly affect the balance of power among factions — they were strictly controlled by the major organizations, and rarely appeared on the open market.
But in the Treasure Yellow Heaven, both Gold She Li Gu and Amethyst She Li Gu were available.
Even if an Immortal Gu Master used countless Amethyst She Li Gu, it would not increase their cultivation. Yet the supply of Amethyst She Li Gu was still quite scarce.
This was because Gold and Amethyst She Li Gu, beyond their cultivation-boosting properties, were also widely used as ingredients for refining Immortal Gu. They served a critical catalytic function in many Immortal Gu secret recipes.
Beyond Gu refinement, if an Immortal Gu Master had descendants or junior family members, they would also stockpile large quantities of She Li Gu to leave behind for their heirs or clan.
Therefore, in the Treasure Yellow Heaven, She Li Gu from First to Third Transformation were sold by the dozen, Fourth Transformation Gold She Li Gu were somewhat rarer, and Amethyst She Li Gu were scarcer still.
Gold and Amethyst She Li Gu were widely used in Immortal Gu secret recipes. Fang Yuan had used them when refining the Spring Autumn Cicada, and again when refining the Second Empty Orifice Gu. He had also heard that the incomplete Blood God Child Immortal Gu recipe required large quantities of She Li Gu.
Whenever Immortal Gu were involved, the prices remained perpetually sky-high. But this situation was still far better than the strict prohibitions in the mortal world.
Fang Yuan immediately purchased three Amethyst She Li Gu, then spent a hefty sum to acquire a Horse-to-Success Gu.
This Gu was far more expensive than even the Amethyst She Li Gu — it could increase the success rate of Gu refinement.
Afterward, Fang Yuan bought a large quantity of low-Transformation Gu and Gu refinement materials, preparing to refine Fifth Transformation Breath Concealing Gu and others.
Although the Treasure Yellow Heaven could detect treasure light, the mere height of the treasure light could not reveal whether a Gu had been tampered with. It was not entirely safe, so Fang Yuan still preferred to refine his own — that was the prudent approach.
He sold off all the incomplete recipes he held, purchased large quantities of supplies, and after deducting the Treasure Yellow Heaven's transaction fees, this round of trading left him with twenty-eight Immortal Yuan Stones.
Of course, these Immortal Gu incomplete recipes could be sold again, but the treasure light on each would continue to decline. A certain period of time had to pass before the treasure light recovered.
Transactions in the Treasure Yellow Heaven were judged first and foremost by treasure light. Stronger treasure light meant higher prices. Declining treasure light meant the selling price dropped.
After all, the more people who knew about an incomplete recipe, the lower its value. If he kept selling continuously, Fang Yuan would earn less and less each time, and the Immortal Gu Masters who had purchased before would feel shortchanged. Waiting an interval before selling again benefited both buyer and seller.
The seller's asking price stayed the same, while the buyer gained precious time to study the incomplete recipe — after all, every Immortal Gu was unique.
"Right now, the most valuable recipes in my possession are the Spring Autumn Cicada secret method, the Second Empty Orifice Gu secret recipe, and the Blood God Child incomplete recipe. All the other incomplete recipes I'll sell again. Of course, I'll need to wait at least several months."
By this time, he meant several months in the Five Regions' time.
As for other recipes — for instance, the method of refining the Fixed Travel Gu from Divine Wandering, that was common knowledge. Placed in the Treasure Yellow Heaven, it wouldn't generate a single inch of treasure light.
"The Stone People — I need to keep supplying the Immortal Crane Sect as much as possible. This is to prevent them from seeing through anything, ease the tensions, and delay as long as possible."
Now that Dang Hun Mountain was gradually dying, the output of Courage Gu was declining with every cycle, and each transaction drastically reduced the Stone People population. The Immortal Crane Sect's patience was wearing thin, and sooner or later, battle was inevitable. All Fang Yuan could do was delay as long as possible.
"Fortunately, they'll only assume I'm trapped in the Fox Immortal's Blessed Land, picturing me as a turtle in a jar. They'd never suspect that I'd travel far to the Northern Plains — and even be able to return. Not even that Inkstone Old Man would predict it."
Gu Masters of the Wisdom Path, while skilled in deduction, did not conjure visions from thin air. They traced every clue back to its root, tracing the evidence step by step.
Fang Yuan's core Gu was the Spring Autumn Cicada. His greatest advantage was rebirth. Five hundred years of memories from his previous life — the Star Portal Gu, the Toast-Passing Gu, and others — were all Gu from an entire era ahead of the Five Regions.
"The incomplete recipes can't be sold for now, the Stone People are only being supplied to the Immortal Crane Sect for now, but I still have something to sell!"
Fang Yuan had long had a plan. This merchandise was nothing other than soil.
Soil in the Treasure Yellow Heaven was a precious commodity. Cloud Soil, Rot Soil, Salt Soil — many Blessed Lands produced specialized earth that was traded in the Treasure Yellow Heaven, where Gu Masters exchanged what they had for what they needed.
The soil Fang Yuan was selling was no ordinary earth either — it was Diluting Mud.
Back when the earthly calamity struck, Dang Hun Mountain had been ambushed and polluted by the power of the Diluting Mud Immortal Gu. The entire mountain was gradually turning into a slurry of mud.
But in this world, fortune and misfortune were always intertwined.
The mud formed from Dang Hun Mountain's rocks all carried the power of the Diluting Mud Immortal Gu. In the eyes of certain Immortal Gu Masters, this was essential material for refining the Diluting Mud Immortal Gu!
Sure enough, as soon as Fang Yuan placed this mud into the Treasure Yellow Heaven, it immediately drew enormous attention.
"What kind of day is this? So many excellent goods appearing at once!"
"Diluting Mud — this is genuine Diluting Mud, carrying a powerful Immortal Gu aura."
"Too bad I don't have the Diluting Mud Immortal Gu recipe. Even if I got this mud, it wouldn't be much use…"
The Immortal Gu Masters' spiritual senses surged with excitement. Many competed to project their thoughts and bid against one another.
"I need the Diluting Mud Immortal Gu recipe. I won't trade for anything else." Under Fang Yuan's orders, the Little Fox Immortal transmitted this message.
This exacting demand drew immediate ridicule from the Immortal Gu Masters.
"You want to trade a pile of mud for an Immortal Gu recipe? Your greed is beyond absurd."
"The Diluting Mud Immortal Gu is a single-use consumable Gu. Obviously the recipe is far more valuable than the Gu itself. And you have the audacity to demand the recipe?"
"This is completely unrealistic. I'd advise you to ask for something else — otherwise, this heap of sludge will just sit in the Treasure Yellow Heaven with no one interested."
But the Little Fox Immortal added: "I'm not asking for a complete recipe, of course. Whichever incomplete recipe has the highest treasure light, I'll take that one."