Fang Yuan stood within, silent and still. He waited until the willpower in his mind was nearly exhausted before finally opening his eyes and withdrawing from the halo of wisdom.
The deductions he had just made had yielded results. But they also weighed heavily on his heart.
"To seal the Spring Autumn Cicada, I need over six thousand ordinary Gu. Nearly half of them are Fifth Transformation Gu, around two thousand are rare Gu, and approximately eight hundred are ancient Gu. Some of these ancient Gu are on the brink of extinction, and some may have already gone extinct entirely. A preliminary estimate puts the cost at roughly twenty-three Immortal Yuan Stones."
Fang Yuan was dirt poor. Twenty-three Immortal Yuan Stones was an unimaginable sum for him right now.
But he had to grit his teeth and find a way to make it happen.
The reason was that the Spring Autumn Cicada's recovery was growing faster and faster, and the pressure it exerted on his first Empty Orifice was becoming increasingly severe.
Fortunately, Fang Yuan had converted his body into a zombie, turning his first Empty Orifice into a Dead Orifice, which had allowed him to hold out until now. With his previous orifice, it would have been burst open long ago.
"Based on the current situation, I estimate I still have a little over two months to prepare. Beyond that deadline, even the first Dead Orifice will be damaged."
Fang Yuan's heart was heavy.
He was currently a living dead man. Even if the first Empty Orifice were destroyed, he wouldn't die. But losing it would undoubtedly cripple his future cultivation potential — an immeasurable and devastating loss.
Fang Yuan was in a dire situation. To earn twenty-three Immortal Yuan Stones in such a short time, the only viable method was to sell Immortal Gu recipes.
Upon returning to the Danghun Palace, Fang Yuan summoned Tai Bai Yun Sheng.
"During these days, I've been monitoring the Treasure Yellow Heaven constantly, practically without sleeping or resting. But the Lang Ya Earth Spirit's divine sense has never appeared, not once."
Tai Bai Yun Sheng's answer left Fang Yuan disappointed.
The Lang Ya Earth Spirit used a Divine Sense Gu to call himself "Old Immortal Lang Ya" in the Treasure Yellow Heaven. He was quite senior and active there. Yet he hadn't shown up at all — it was as if he'd vanished without a trace.
Fang Yuan keenly sensed that something might have gone wrong on the Lang Ya Earth Spirit's end. He recalled his previous life, where Lang Ya Blessed Land had suffered seven waves of attacks.
"Before, when I was on Northern Plains, two waves of powerful enemies had already breached Lang Ya Blessed Land. Could it be that a third wave has already occurred, leaving the Lang Ya Earth Spirit too busy to refine Gu, occupied with fighting them off?"
His memories from his past life couldn't help him with this.
He only remembered that there had been seven waves of attacks — he hadn't memorized the exact timing of each one.
Even if he had, this world had already been influenced and altered by him to an enormous degree. Layer upon layer of changes could very well have shifted the attacks earlier.
"Boy, have these past few days opened my eyes or what... A single block of ten-thousand-year-old mystic ice costs half an Immortal Yuan Stone! One jin of Hurricane Mountain Pepper goes for a whole Immortal Yuan Stone. And what the hell are those Luoshen Pearls? Ten of them go for half an Immortal Yuan Stone! And don't even get me started on that Threaded White Silk Iron — a piece the size of a pinky fingertip costs three Immortal Yuan Stones! Good heavens, I've truly discovered that I am an absolute pauper."
Tai Bai Yun Sheng rattled on about his experiences over the past days, lamenting endlessly.
During this time, Fang Yuan had spent every day with him and noticed a flaw gradually emerging — the man talked too much, rambling on and on.
Fang Yuan handed him a message Gu, cutting off the chatter: "This is a letter from the Immortal Crane Sect. Take a look."
Tai Bai Yun Sheng focused his mind on it, his brow furrowing into a tight knot.
The Immortal Crane Sect's follow-up letter was even more severe and aggressive. Their intent to attack the Fox Immortal's Blessed Land was now unmistakable. They even spoke with the tone of victors, condescendingly demanding Fang Yuan's surrender.
"These bastards — looks like they've gone mad wanting Danghun Mountain. If I were them, I'd at least try to keep you stable first while secretly carrying out an attack plan. Aren't they worried we'll be on guard?" Tai Bai Yun Sheng said, his expression displeased.
"That's the Immortal Crane Sect's strength and confidence for you. They're one of the Ten Great Ancient Sects of Central Continent, with foundations deeper than you can imagine. They've stood tall on Flying Crane Mountain for hundreds of thousands of years. Besides, I think they're also trying to pressure me and probe my background," Fang Yuan analyzed.
"True. The Immortal Crane Sect is even stronger than any single power in Northern Plains. We're isolated and outmatched — they're a colossal force, and they're growing more aggressive by the day. In the face of all this, keeping the Fox Immortal's Blessed Land will be extremely difficult..." Tai Bai Yun Sheng chose his words carefully, glancing at Fang Yuan a few times.
He already harbored thoughts of retreat, of abandoning the Fox Immortal's Blessed Land and fleeing — he just hadn't said it outright.
Fang Yuan understood his thoughts perfectly. Tai Bai Yun Sheng was a healing Gu Master, with a benevolent nature that bordered on weakness. He was sorely lacking in the spirit to fight back.
Fang Yuan bore no ill will toward Tai Bai Yun Sheng for it.
In truth, Fang Yuan himself had also considered the possibility of proactively withdrawing and giving up the Fox Immortal's Blessed Land.
After all, the profits that Danghun Mountain represented were enormous. Powers like the Immortal Crane Sect and other supreme forces would stop at nothing to claim it.
But that was only as a last resort.
As long as there was still hope, as long as there was still profit to be made, Fang Yuan would never give up lightly.
So he reassured Tai Bai Yun Sheng: "The Immortal Crane Sect may be one of the Ten Great Ancient Sects of Central Continent, a supreme force and a colossal entity, but they have their own troubles too. How many resources can they really divert specifically to deal with us? I guarantee you, it's nowhere near as terrible as you imagine — especially when they've greatly underestimated our true combat strength."