Fang Yuan's proposal was impossible for He Fengyang to resist.
When Fang Yuan sprung the ambush, He Fengyang found himself surrounded on all sides. He had believed this operation was a complete failure — the best outcome would be to use the Space-Expanding Immortal Gu to tear through the barrier and break out, albeit grievously wounded.
Even if the escape consumed enormous amounts of immortal essence, he had no choice. After all, when comparing red-date immortal essence and his own life, the latter carried far more weight.
But once he returned to the Immortal Crane Sect, He Fengyang's days would be anything but pleasant.
The sect had placed such high expectations on him. He had prepared thoroughly for over a year, only to fail. If his rival Gu Master Lei Tan learned of this, he would probably rush to He Fengyang's door, flushed with excitement, to mock and ridicule him!
The Grand Elder would be utterly disappointed in him. He Fengyang would probably be unable to hold his head high for years. This defeat would become a lifelong stain — whenever the chance arose, others would mock and ridicule him, whether openly or behind his back.
If he could reach a deal with Fang Yuan on Courage Gu trade, the outcome would be far, far better than simply breaking out.
He Fengyang deliberated: "The Fox Immortal's Blessed Land is guarded by four Gu Masters and eight Great Wasteland Beasts, plus the advantage of home ground — it's practically impregnable! Any one of the Ten Great Ancient Sects has the capability to attack. But capability alone isn't enough; they might not be able to mobilize sufficient Gu Master combat power. Even if they could, assaulting the Fox Immortal's Blessed Land and fighting a Gu Master free-for-all would drain immortal essence and other resources on an enormous scale."
"Even if they could muster the forces and had the courage to invest vast military funds, the opposition consisted of Gu Masters as well — they could easily destroy Danghun Mountain. By that point, even if the Fox Immortal's Blessed Land were captured, it would most likely amount to drawing water with a bamboo basket — all for nothing."
In the wider Central Continent, a single Juntian Sword Sect with just three Gu Masters could challenge the Immortal Crane Sect, one of the Ten Great Ancient Sects.
This was because dealing with three Gu Masters required committing resources and manpower on a scale that gave the Immortal Crane Sect serious pause. If the assault failed, it wouldn't just be a reputational loss — the enormous material damage could very well trigger internal turmoil within the sect, indirectly giving rise to further problems.
Defeating a Gu Master was easy; killing one was hard. Anyone who had reached that level would surely hold trump cards for escape.
If the killing failed and a Gu Master was thoroughly offended — an irate Gu Master secretly targeting mortals — the Immortal Crane Sect, vast as it was, would be running around putting out fires on every front.
Now that Fang Yuan had displayed such power, relying on the Immortal Crane Sect alone, the hope of a forced assault could practically be considered dead. Unless several ancient sects joined forces. But a joint operation would involve countless aspects — not least among them, the distribution of spoils.
If He Fengyang agreed to cooperate with Fang Yuan and establish a Courage Gu trade, then this outcome could not be considered a total failure at all.
Because the Immortal Crane Sect's primary objective in seizing the Fox Immortal's Blessed Land was, after all, the Courage Gu.
Obtaining maximum benefit with minimal expenditure — that was the question the Immortal Crane Sect's Grand Elders cared about most.
In fact, the Immortal Crane Sect had already demanded that Fang Yuan open up Courage Gu trading long before this.
"If I can establish trade with him, I won't need to break out gravely wounded. I'll save a vast amount of immortal essence, and when I return to the sect, I'll have something to show for it." He Fengyang considered this at length.
Fang Yuan read his expression. Though He Fengyang was deep and his face remained blank, the prolonged deliberation spoke volumes about his wavering resolve.
So Fang Yuan continued: "My Courage Gu, when sold on the Treasure Yellow Heaven, go for one hundred per Immortal Essence Stone. To your Immortal Crane Sect, I'll offer one hundred and twenty Courage Gu per Immortal Essence Stone. However, in exchange, I need the Immortal Crane Sect to acknowledge my Fox Immortal's Blessed Land as a vassal force of your sect. And this vassal status may be dissolved at any time."
With this vassal status in place, if any of the other nine great sects wanted to deal with Fang Yuan, they couldn't bypass the Immortal Crane Sect. That was the game of the Righteous Path — it was like the Immortal Crane Sect being the big brother and the Fox Immortal's Blessed Land being the little one. You had to ask the big brother before you could touch the little one.
He Fengyang offered a hollow smile. "Fang Yuan, you're trying to use my sect as your shield, aren't you? With the forces you command, you could quite easily establish a sect of your own, couldn't you?"
"No one is permitted to establish a sect on Heavenly Stair Mountain. I have no intention of leaving this blessed land," Fang Yuan replied with a smile.
Heavenly Stair Mountain once led directly to the Heavenly Court. Even Gu Masters dared not raise a hand on this mountain. Had the Immortal Crane Sect not declared Fang Yuan a traitor to the sect — claiming the righteous cause of cleansing their own ranks — they would never have dared to attack the Fox Immortal's Blessed Land so rashly.
"Besides, having the Fox Immortal's Blessed Land as a vassal of the Immortal Crane Sect would also protect your honorable sect's reputation, wouldn't it?" Fang Yuan went on.
He Fengyang fell silent once more.
After a long pause, he exhaled a turbid breath. "The matter is too grave for me to decide on my own. I must return and report to the sect in person."
Fang Yuan nodded. "If Brother Fengyang goes to explain in person, that would naturally be best. However, Fairy Cangyu will need to remain here as a guest for a while longer."
He Fengyang and Cangyu exchanged a glance.
Fairy Cangyu said, "Lord Fengyang, please go ahead. I shall wait here."
"I'll return as quickly as I can." He Fengyang nodded heavily to her, then fixed his gaze deeply upon Fang Yuan and his companions.
He wanted to etch every one of these people into the deepest recesses of his heart.
"Earth Spirit, open the gate and let Brother Fengyang out," Fang Yuan instructed.
"Yes, Master," the little fox spirit answered crisply.
Atop Heavenly Stair Mountain, a platinum radiance suddenly burst forth.
Within the light, a vermillion gate tower materialized. It stood ten zhang tall, bearing a nine-colored plaque. Overhead, rosy auspicious clouds gathered, and ten thousand rays of sunset light formed a luminous staircase.
He Fengyang had broken through the barrier to enter, but when departing, he walked out through the main gate.
This commotion immediately drew the attention of the nine great sects' Gu Masters lying in ambush on all sides.
They began to exchange remarks.
"He's come out!"
"This quickly? Could it be there was no real resistance at all?"
"When He Fengyang went in, he had to use the Space-Expanding Immortal Gu, but now he's able to leave through the main gate. That's clearly a sign he got what he came for."