Fang Zheng's Blessed Land. Updated fastest.
The resources of the Time Path and Space Path both exceeded normal standards — this was a high-grade Blessed Land.
The terrain within the Blessed Land was mostly plains, but at regular intervals, several mountain ranges rose abruptly from the ground.
Right now, Fang Zheng's attention was fixed on a particular valley.
The valley was filled with jagged, grotesque rocks, and its interior was drenched in a deep crimson. Venture deeper and one would discover that the valley had been planted with a vast expanse of Blood Flower Trees.
There were tens of thousands of these trees. Unlike ordinary trees, they bore fruit before blooming. The fruit was about the size of an infant's fist — plump and round. The flowering happened in a single instant: the entire fruit shell would suddenly burst apart, erupting into a massive red-and-white blossom. The petals were white at their base, but radiating outward from the pistil were streaks the color of splattered blood. Every flower's color and shape was unique.
There had once been a period in the Central Continent when large numbers of Gu Masters cultivated these Blood Flower Trees. Every flowering season had been a magnificent spectacle. There had even been grand festivals that attracted Gu Masters from far and wide to admire the sight. It was only later, when the Blood Path was founded and brought devastation upon the world, that the Blood Flower Tree — a fundamental Blood Path ingredient — was gradually banned from cultivation.
The Blood Flower Trees in Fang Zheng's possession had, of course, been provided by Immortal Crane Sect. More precisely, they had been supplied under Fan Xiliu's personal name.
This was a Righteous Path trick, and Fang Zheng had long since grown used to it.
In the current Five Regions, the Blood Path was strictly prohibited by every major righteous sect. Yet the bitter irony was that those who secretly devoted themselves to intensive Blood Path research were precisely these same prestigious righteous sects.
"These Blood Flower Trees are mortal-grade Gu ingredients, but once they exceed a certain quantity, they can be stacked and used in aggregate to rival immortal-grade materials. That is the Blood Path's most unique advantage!"
"The Blood Flower Trees I possess can be considered a form of immortal-grade material."
"However, now that I already possess the Sixth Transformation Blood Path Immortal Gu — Cold Blood and Blood Vengeance — what I need are mortal-grade Blood Gu to assist me, so that I can form Blood Path Immortal killer moves."
Fang Zheng understood clearly that his cultivation focus going forward would be refining mortal-grade Blood Gu, and then, through Fan Xiliu's instruction, practicing the Blood Path's immortal-level killer moves.
There was also the matter that he had recently ascended. The gap between an Empty Orifice and an Immortal Orifice was enormous, and he needed time to adapt to it.
After browsing for a while, Fang Zheng withdrew his mind and returned to reality.
The faint sense of accomplishment and satisfaction he had felt while examining his own Blessed Land dissipated instantly, replaced by a barely perceptible weight pressing down on his heart.
"Fang Yuan…" The moment he returned to reality, Fang Zheng could not help but think of his brother.
Over these past days, he had not only ascended to Immortal Gu Master status — he had also obtained intelligence on Fang Yuan from Fan Xiliu. This intelligence was far more detailed than anything available on the outside; its source was Heavenly Court.
Through this, Fang Zheng had learned of Fang Yuan's recent activities. As for the fact that Fang Yuan had not died — he had learned that shortly after being rescued back to the Central Continent. Strangely, when he had first learned this truth, not a shred of anger at being deceived had stirred in his heart.
Instead, the more he learned in recent times, the more sorrow welled up within him.
"So I never truly understood you… Fang Yuan."
"Otherworldly Demon… Spring Autumn Cicada… Eighth Transformation cultivation…"
The deeper his understanding grew, the more acutely Fang Zheng felt his own insignificance, the more truly he sensed Fang Yuan's terror and power!
The thought that he would inevitably have to face such an enemy in the future naturally weighed on him — there was even a trace of despair.
He confronted the despair buried deep in his heart.
He had never denied it, nor did he run from it.
People often said that a newborn calf is not afraid of tigers. In youth, one fears nothing under heaven, brimming with a kind of reckless momentum. But once a person has truly accumulated enough experience, they come to recognize their own fear. Tigers really can devour people. A tiger's claws can easily shred a calf's hide. One's strength, one's horns — they are not nearly as formidable as one had imagined.
Imagination is always beautiful. Only after a full collision with reality can one truly feel pain, and through that pain, clearly see the world — and oneself.
"When I was only a Fifth Transformation Gu Master, I wandered through the Langya Blessed Land, caught up in the strife among the three Mao nations, displaced and adrift."
"Now that I have become a Gu Immortal, I am caught between Fang Yuan and Heavenly Court, serving as Heavenly Court's chess piece. My strength has far surpassed what it was before, but unfortunately my situation has become even more beyond my control — the danger far greater. One misstep and I could very well perish, my Dao extinguished."
At this thought, Fang Zheng could not help but let out a string of bitter laughs.
Even now, he did not know what value he possessed that made Heavenly Court regard him so highly.
Before long, his thoughts turned to Zhao Lianyun.
After his ascension, he had received a number of congratulatory gifts. This was a custom observed across all Five Regions. Whenever a Gu Master successfully ascended, friends, relatives, and allied factions would all send gifts.
Most of Fang Zheng's gifts had come from Immortal Crane Sect, which made Zhao Lianyun's gift stand out as particularly unique.
Through Immortal Crane Sect's intelligence channels, Fang Zheng had gained a thorough understanding of Zhao Lianyun as well.
"You are also an Otherworldly Demon — only an incomplete one."
"You reached out so proactively. You wish to join forces with me against Fang Yuan, don't you…"
Tucked within Zhao Lianyun's congratulatory gift was a letter. It conveyed Zhao Lianyun's goodwill but said little else. Yet Fang Zheng could discern her intentions between the lines.
Zhao Lianyun's gift was a cultivation method for the Blood Exquisite — extremely well-suited to Fang Zheng. In her letter, she also shared her insights on Gu Immortal cultivation. One passage in particular caught Fang Zheng's attention.
"In Gu Immortal cultivation, combat is the way of hegemony, while managing a Blessed Land is the kingly way. The two complement each other; neither can be lacking. Without sufficient combat strength — without the way of hegemony — no matter how well you manage your Blessed Land, you will only be bullied and have your hard-earned treasures become spoils for others. Conversely, if combat strength is formidable but the Blessed Land's foundation is lacking, it is like a roaring bonfire: brilliant for a time, but once the firewood is consumed, nothing remains but a wisp of smoke."