Without any further hesitation, Fang Yuan used Fixed Immortal Travel to journey to Langya Blessed Land.
Langya Blessed Land had changed beyond recognition.
Upon the vast ocean, three great landmasses faced one another. High above, a fourth continent floated in the sky, constructed from cloud mud.
The blessed land, once damaged by fierce battle, had been restored to its former glory thanks to Tai Bai Yun Sheng's intervention.
Though Tai Bai Yun Sheng had not had the chance to participate in the attack and defense battle, he had reaped considerable rewards in the post-battle restoration work.
Of course, because certain Immortal Gu that formed the Refinement Furnace had been lost, the blessed land's internal space had contracted. These vanished spaces and their associated losses were beyond Tai Bai Yun Sheng's ability to restore.
The Twelve Cloud Pavilions had been rebuilt by the Langya Earth Spirit, distributed evenly across the cloud mud continent. And around the Twelve Cloud Pavilions, many hairmen Gu Masters had begun constructing even more buildings.
"I plan to build Twelve Cloud Cities centered on the Twelve Cloud Pavilions. This cloud mud continent in the high sky will serve as a new homeland for the hairmen elites," the Langya Earth Spirit explained to Fang Yuan upon meeting him.
Fang Yuan nodded in acknowledgment.
Langya Blessed Land had lost numerous Immortal Gu, causing its internal space to shrink considerably. Meanwhile, the hairmen population inside was vast, approaching the maximum capacity of the three landmasses. Under such circumstances, new territory was naturally needed to accommodate more hairmen for reproduction and growth.
But what the Langya Earth Spirit said next genuinely surprised Fang Yuan.
"In addition, I have established the Langya Sect! The sect system is modeled after the current Central Continent—I am the Supreme Grand Elder, and the hairmen Gu Immortals serve as the other Supreme Elders. My predecessor was far too stubborn, using these precious Gu Immortal combat forces solely for Gu Refinement. Humph! To achieve the grand ambition of hairmen domination, blood must inevitably be spilled."
"Next, I will conduct intensive training for these hairmen Gu Immortals, cultivating their combat abilities. Once they possess the means to protect themselves, I will dispatch them all outside the blessed land. They will carry out various sect missions."
"As for these three continents on the sea, under my influence, war will erupt among them! From these conflicts, three national rulers will emerge, forming three land-based nations that compete with one another. Each year, my Langya Sect will recruit the most elite hairmen from these three hairmen nations, and bring them to the Cloud-Capped Continent to live, forming the Langya Sect's mortal foundation. And from among them, I will select a hairmen Gu Master at the peak of Fifth Transformation to serve as the Langya Sect Leader!"
The new Langya Earth Spirit was entirely different from his predecessor—perhaps also stimulated by Qin Baisheng's fierce assault. The Langya Earth Spirit was determined to impose iron-blooded reforms upon the entire Langya Blessed Land, employing harsh methods with the bearing of a formidable sovereign.
A new emperor, a new court. Because of the Langya Earth Spirit's transformation, the hairmen living under his rule would all suffer the torments and trials of war. The peaceful, tranquil life of old would be gone forever.
"Using something as cruel as war, the Langya Earth Spirit can indeed select the most outstanding hairmen seeds. But such a method is rather extravagant."
Fang Yuan secretly lamented—the number of casualties in war would by no means be small.
Such losses pained him; it would be far better to hand those hairmen over to him for Gu Refinement instead.
But Fang Yuan only muttered this in his heart, never daring to voice it aloud.
In the Langya Earth Spirit's eyes, the hairmen were the finest species under heaven, while humans and all other Variant Humans were a lower order.
Fang Yuan raised hairmen as Gu Refinement slaves. If the Langya Earth Spirit ever learned of this, he would absolutely not accept it—he might even turn against Fang Yuan entirely.
Therefore, though Fang Yuan was in dire need of commercial experience in raising hairmen, when they had previously discussed the rewards from the Langya Blessed Land attack and defense battle, even though he knew the Langya Earth Spirit must possess the most precious raising experience, Fang Yuan had never once raised the matter.
"However, proceeding like this, after Langya Blessed Land undergoes these iron-blooded reforms and the hairmen Gu Immortals work diligently, their combat strength will grow rapidly. Perhaps in my previous life's history, Langya Blessed Land also underwent such a transformation, which allowed it to withstand all seven waves of attacks."
"Still, the waters run deep within Langya Blessed Land. Though two hairmen Gu Immortal traitors have been exposed, there's no guarantee that among the remaining Gu Immortals, a third or fourth mole isn't lurking. That Qin Baisheng's group was actually able to develop such traitors—their methods were truly inconceivable."
Fang Yuan mused over these thoughts while verbally discussing his purpose in visiting with the Langya Earth Spirit.
The Langya Earth Spirit was somewhat surprised, bringing up old terms: "Oh? You want to borrow my set of Immortal Gu right now to relocate your blessed land? I recall I told you before—borrowing my set of Immortal Gu wouldn't come cheap. Even considering that you helped me defend against a powerful enemy, it would still cost two thousand Immortal Stones, wouldn't it?"
Fang Yuan produced two thousand Immortal Stones and handed them to the Earth Spirit: "See, I've already prepared them."
The Langya Earth Spirit was utterly astonished. As he accepted the Immortal Stones, he looked Fang Yuan up and down, his gaze subtly shifting.
He knew Fang Yuan's background, and his heart was filled with disbelief: "How long has this kid been promoted, and he already has this many Immortal Stones?"
"Back when he traded with my predecessor—calculating immortal Gu recipes to earn Immortal Stones—his situation was clearly so dire. It seems most of these Immortal Stones must have been borrowed. That's not good—drowning in debt and owing favors makes for difficult repayment later."
The Langya Earth Spirit shook his head, disapproving of Fang Yuan's actions.
But at the same time, he understood.
He knew the crimes Fang Yuan had committed were far too grave. Once the truth was uncovered, he would be finished—certainly hunted to the ends of the earth.
Therefore, Fang Yuan had to relocate his blessed land.
And yet, this very circumstance was precisely why the Langya Earth Spirit intended to gradually draw Fang Yuan in, attempting to convert him into his own pawn.
It was because Fang Yuan found himself in such a predicament—enemies on all sides—that, with nowhere left to turn, he would join the hairmen forces and become a traitor to the human race.