Hei Loulan furrowed his brow and stepped out of Tai Bai Yunsheng's room.
"A true powerhouse wins without arrogance and loses without despair. I never expected the famous Tai Bai Yunsheng to be nothing more than this." He was deeply dissatisfied with Tai Bai Yunsheng's mental state.
"Tai Bai Yunsheng is the foremost healer. If he's not in peak condition, the difficulty of my breakthroughs will increase dramatically." At this thought, Hei Loulan tilted his head and gazed upward.
At the summit of the Holy Palace, ten thousand rays of radiant light surged forth in magnificent splendor.
The Eighty-Eight True Yang Building had already condensed sixty-seven floors, and was currently in the initial stages of condensing the sixty-eighth floor.
Hei Loulan gazed at it entranced, a cold light of absolute determination flashing through his eyes.
Within this sixty-eighth floor existed a Strength Path Immortal Gu!
Hei Loulan possessed one Angle Lord Token. As soon as this Strength Path Immortal Gu was captured by the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building, he had been notified.
It was a Sixth Transformation Strength Path Immortal Gu, named Flying Bear Strength Gu.
The Flying Bear was a desolate beast, its combat power comparable to a Gu Immortal.
The Flying Bear Strength Gu could grant a Gu Immortal a certain probability of unleashing a Flying Bear phantom during attacks, striking with the divine strength of a Flying Bear.
This was exactly the Immortal Gu Hei Loulan needed. With it, he could ascend to become a Strength Path Gu Immortal!
"This Immortal Gu — I must obtain it. With it, my revenge and my grand plans will have hope!" Hei Loulan could not help but clench his fists, but he quickly relaxed them.
His confidant Hei Shu jogged over and knelt at his feet.
Hei Loulan's expression swiftly returned to normal.
Even before his closest confidant, he would not reveal a trace of genuine emotion.
Every day at this time, Hei Shu would report on the movements of the various powerhouses in the Holy Palace: "Lord Chang Shanyin is still tackling the ninetieth challenge on the seventh floor, still making no progress. Lord Yelü Sang is on the forty-ninth floor. He broke through the eighty-first challenge, but lost thirty percent of his accompanying Gu Masters..."
Hei Loulan's complete opening of the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building was an act of generosity rarely seen in any previous era, igniting a frenzied wave of challengers attempting to conquer the True Yang Building.
Even though every Guest Token was fetched at astronomical prices, countless people still clamored for them.
People die for wealth as birds die for food. Lust for profit drove many to their deaths.
Counting Tai Bai Yunsheng's case, there had already been five Fifth Transformation powerhouses who had fallen in succession: Chang Biao, Pan Ping, Hao Jiliu, Gao Yang, and Zhu Zai. For Hei Loulan, this was an enormous loss.
The fewer forces he had at his disposal, the greater the difficulty in obtaining the Flying Bear Strength Gu.
Of course, his complete opening of the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building also had its benefits. Among the participating Gu Masters, those who survived mostly experienced rapid advancement.
Quite a few Gu Masters had also successfully advanced, bringing forth many new faces at the Fourth and Fifth Transformation.
The Eighty-Eight True Yang Building had originally been laid out by the Juyang Immortal Venerable for the benefit of his descendants.
"This sixty-eighth floor is the key objective of our clan's campaign, far more important than the previous thirty-nine floors. This is a task specially assigned by one of our clan's Supreme Elders. Therefore, every ounce of strength in the Holy Palace must be treasured. Hei Shu, announce this news — from this day forward, the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building is closed. Everyone must follow my command. Once the sixty-eighth floor is conquered, the True Yang Building shall reopen." Hei Loulan commanded, his tone filled with unchallengeable resolve.
Upon hearing that this was a task from one of the clan's Supreme Elders, Hei Shu shuddered, his expression turning extremely solemn.
"Go quickly." Hei Loulan waved his hand.
Hei Shu hurriedly accepted the order and withdrew.
Every Royal Court Contest was a chess game played by Gu Immortals. No matter how powerful a Gu Master might be, they were merely pieces on the board.
Gu Immortals sponsoring a particular clan to participate in the Royal Court Contest in order to seize certain Immortal Gu — this was the most common scenario.
Hei Loulan was certain that while closing the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building would provoke discontent, invoking the name of the Hei family Gu Immortal to suppress it would leave no one daring to raise objections.
"Tai Bai Yunsheng's injuries are serious, but he only needs about half a month of rest to rejoin the fight. After all, he is a healing Gu Master who stays at the rear of the battlefield. He wants Lifespan Gu — to mobilize him, that is the angle to pursue."
"Chang Shanyin is fixated on the seventh floor. Heh, his days haven't been easy. Because of a moment's carelessness, he even lost his own son Chang Jiyou in that very challenge. To restore his authority, he must break through that floor. But he previously asked me for the Flying Bear Phantom Immortal Gu, and took out a loan, owing me a large sum of resources. I can still mobilize him."
"And Yelü Sang — he possesses a Flame Path auxiliary Immortal Gu, making him a powerful ally. I should lure him with heavy rewards... Of course, the most critical thing is to mobilize the strength of Xuesongzi, Hei Cheng, and Hei Bo, the three Gu Immortals. Heh heh, it's time to send them letters."
...
After reading Hei Loulan's letter, Hei Bo was extremely excited: "After waiting for so long, the Wooden Chicken Gu has finally appeared. I never expected it to be on the sixty-eighth floor."
He harbored not the slightest doubt about the letter's contents.
After all, Hei Loulan was Hei Cheng's son, the current patriarch of the Hei family. If even his loyalty was to be doubted, then who in the entire world could be trusted?
Beside him, Hei Cheng laughed heartily: "Brother, you've waited through the long night to see the moon bright and flowers bloom — hard work pays off! Does the letter mention anything about a Strength Path Immortal Gu?"
Hei Bo's face reddened: "I'm ashamed — I was so focused on the Wooden Chicken Gu that I forgot about my nephew's situation. My nephew has the Great Strength True Martial Body and must have a Strength Path Immortal Gu to ascend to Gu Immortal. The letter does mention this, but unfortunately the Strength Path Immortal Gu has not yet appeared."
"No Strength Path Immortal Gu yet?" Hei Cheng furrowed his brow.
Previously, Hei Bo had been worried about the Wooden Chicken Gu, and Hei Cheng had comforted him. This time, it was Hei Bo's turn to comfort Hei Cheng: "Don't worry, Brother. The Eighty-Eight True Yang Building will ultimately condense eighty-eight floors, and there are still twenty left."
Hei Cheng nodded slightly and sighed: "The Dark Crossing Immortal Gu is nearly impossible to conceal any longer. This can almost be considered my son's last chance. Sigh... Man proposes, Heaven disposes. Let us leave it to fate."
Hei Bo's heart burned with eagerness, and he steered the conversation back to the Wooden Chicken Gu. He urged: "Brother, time waits for no one. Let us prepare quickly! We must provide Hei Loulan with some assistance!"
"Indeed. This matter is urgent. Where does the letter say it is?" Hei Cheng slowly rose from his seat.
Hei Bo also stood up: "Near the Demonic Blood Hills."
"Let's go."
The two Gu Immortals were decisive. They set off immediately.