The next day, Shang Xin Ci took Zhang Zhu and Xiao Die to board the bright moon still water tower. Their goods were all gifted to the Gu Yue Clan, and the accompanying Mortals were also settled in the Gu Yue Village.
Clan Chief Fang Yuan and his younger brother Fang Zheng boarded the bright moon still water tower together. Accompanying them were three Rank Four Elders—Elder Qing Shu, Elder Red Mountain, and Elder Medicinal Consort—along with ten Rank Three Clan Elders and two hundred Rank Two Gu Masters, while the rest remained to guard the village.
By noon, Fang Yuan had everything prepared and, together with the various Elders, took turns to activate the bright moon still water tower, which was a prototype mortal gu house.
In an instant, this nine-story pavilion rose into the clouds, ascending over two hundred meters into the sky, and then sped toward Shang Family City.
Shang Xin Ci and Xiao Die were both Mortals. Seeing the pavilion beneath their feet take flight, they were initially filled with terror, which quickly turned into pleasant surprise.
The accompanying Elders were also seeing the Clan Leader Pavilion fly for the first time. Each was incredibly excited, as if they were seeing the bright future of the Gu Yue Clan.
The bright moon still water tower soared along its path. Just as it was about to leave the boundaries of White Bone Mountain, two Ten Thousand Beast King level bone beasts suddenly attacked.
They sensed the majestic aura emanating from the pavilion and, viewing this uninvited guest entering their territory as a formidable enemy, launched a fierce assault.
Seeing the Ten Thousand Beast Kings, the Rank Two Gu Masters and Shang Xin Ci's group instantly froze in place. However, Gu Yue Qing Shu's expression remained unchanged as he raised his hand to inject Golden True Essence into the bright moon still water tower. Other Gu Masters also helped, and Qing Shu's deep voice gave the command:
"Killer Move — Moonblade Storm!"
In an instant, a tornado swirled around the bright moon still water tower. The dark blue tiles on the roof were activated, and over a thousand moonblades shot out through the air.
"Killer Move — Stars Arching Towards the Moon!"
A golden light suddenly enveloped the pavilion, and ten giant meteors revolved around it, spinning faster and faster with the wind from the Moonblade Storm.
Gu Yue Qing Shu immediately activated the direct impact gu and other movement Gu within the tower, controlling the pavilion to slam violently into one of the bone beasts.
With just this one collision, that Ten Thousand Beast King level bone beast was sent flying several yards. The bright moon still water tower then immediately activated its third Killer Move:
"Killer Move — Blood Cloud!"
In an instant, from between the massive red pillars of the bright moon still water tower, over a thousand Blood Droplets flew out into the air.
The wind from the Moonblade Storm suddenly shifted, sweeping up all the moonblades and Blood Droplets and hurling them violently at one of the bone beasts, actually inflicting heavy injuries upon it.
Fang Yuan glanced at the heavily wounded bone beast and raised his hand to activate the bone dragon gu. Four bone dragons roared out, instantly slaying the dying beast on the spot.
Seeing the situation was unfavorable, the other bone beast immediately turned and fled, disappearing over the horizon in the blink of an eye.
This battle lasted less than five minutes, and the one dominating the battlefield was Gu Yue Qing Shu alone. Even if Fang Yuan had not intervened, victory would have only been a matter of time.
Generally speaking, whether it is a mortal gu house or an immortal gu house, they are equipped with Killer Moves, such as the Life's Defeat Killer Move of a Rank Nine immortal gu house or the Predecessors Killer Move of the Calamity Luck Altar.
The bright moon still water tower was equipped with five Killer Moves:
Moonblade Storm, Stars Arching Towards the Moon, Blood Cloud, as well as Gu Yue's Light of Glory and Blood Torrent.
The power of the first three needs no further explanation. Blood Torrent is a movement Killer Move that fuses the essence of the Blood Path and the Water Path.
As for that Gu Yue's Light of Glory, if one were to say it is useless, that would indeed be true; but if one were to compare it to the Liangshan strategist Wu Yong—meaning 'useless'—that would be unfair.
It does, after all, have some use.
What use? Answer: Flexing.
Gu Yue's Light of Glory is a Light Path Killer Move, constructed from a large number of Light Path Gu worms such as Neon Gu and Rainbow Light Gu.
After Yuan Fang was destroyed at Qing Mao Mountain last time, a Xuanyuan Divine Chicken was slain, yielding a massive quantity of Light Path Gu worms. Subsequently, these were used to form a Light Path Killer Move, grandly named "Gu Yue's Light of Glory."
This Killer Move was originally tailored by Yuan Fang for his own entrance. However, the consumption of Gu worms for the Killer Move was too great, and Yuan Fang lost the desire to activate it, so he installed it in the bright moon still water tower.
As for the effect of this flexing, it will be mind-blowing later on.
The bright moon still water tower soared along, passing through White Bone Mountain and Zi You Mountain. Upon reaching Zi You Mountain, Fang Yuan ordered people to gather Purple Quiet Grass and also killed dozens of local wild beasts, harvesting over twenty Rank Three grass Gu—Breath Concealment Grass.
Arriving at Bandit Monkey Mountain, the group easily killed the monkey king and harvested a massive amount of monkey wine.
The bright moon still water tower then flew to Golden Mountain and arrived at Jin Family Village. Fang Yuan sent people to purchase a large batch of Golden Hairpin Grass, but the Jin Clan Chief demanded to buy it back.
Fang Yuan flatly refused, and a conflict instantly broke out.
The Jin Family had never seen the true faces of Fang Yuan and the others, and the Gu Yue high-level members like Fang Yuan and Fang Zheng had all activated Breath Concealment Grass.
The Jin Family assumed they were people of low strength and immediately launched a fierce attack.
(The part about pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger.)
This was exactly what Fang Yuan wanted. While Shang Xin Ci's group was resting, he completely wiped out Jin Family Village overnight.
Afterward, he struck directly at the neighboring Huang Family Village, killing the Huang Clan Chief and establishing a Puppet to manage the village. He then ordered Gu Yue Red Mountain, Gu Yue Red Snake, and twenty Rank Two Gu Masters to stay and guard Huang Family Village, using the emperor to command the lords.
(Huang Family: When did we ever provoke you?)
Through the battles at these two villages, Fang Yuan harvested a total of 1.47 million Spirit Stones and captured a massive number of Gu worms. The number of Blood Droplets also successfully surpassed ten thousand, reaching fifteen thousand.
With these fifteen thousand Blood Droplets alone, it was enough to repel a Rank Five Gu Master.
The bright moon still water tower continued forward, encountering a herd of White Feather Flying Elephants along the way. A great battle broke out between the two sides. Ultimately, Fang Yuan's side suffered no losses and completely annihilated the entire herd of White Feather Flying Elephants.
Not long after, the group encountered a Rank Three high stage Demonic Path Gu Master at Tombstone Mountain.
This person was a Servitude Path Gu Master who commanded a zombie group at Tombstone Mountain. Fang Yuan recognized him at a glance as Ding Hao, the eldest Disciple of the Rank Five Gu Master and Second Generation Zombie King.
After an exchange, Fang Yuan subdued Ding Hao. Ding Hao then submitted to the Gu Yue Clan, changed his name to Gu Yue Ding Hao, and became an Elder of the Clan Chief's lineage.
Finally, the bright moon still water tower arrived at Shang Liang Mountain, and the magnificent silhouette of Shang Family City could be seen from afar.
It was a prosperous city full of ancient charm, with green tiles and flying eaves stretching out in succession. Vermillion palace walls surrounded the city, and the streets were bustling with traffic. Gu Masters and Mortals bustled about, and the sounds of shouting vendors and horse-drawn carriages could be heard from afar, showing a scene of great prosperity.
Yuan Fang looked at the prosperous Shang Family City, put on a Rank Two Sunglasses Gu, and ordered: "We've finally arrived at Shang Family City. Gu Yue Ding Hao, Gu Yue Qing Shu, use that move."
"Yes! Lord Clan Chief!"
"Killer Move — Gu Yue's Light of Glory!"
In an instant, the originally brilliant sky suddenly darkened, as if the blazing sun had been forcibly shielded.
And amidst this deep darkness, the bright moon still water tower suddenly burst forth with seven-colored rainbow light. Behind the pavilion, a 'Halo of the Great Dao' appeared, like a gilded bright moon, shining magnificently.
The clouds beneath the bright moon still water tower were also dyed with variegated colors: white within yellow, yellow containing orange-red, and red mixed with the translucent blue of daylight and the purple mist of dusk, layered together in a dreamlike fashion.
The moon shawl gu on the building also responded to this call. Dozens of Rank Two moon shawl gu were activated simultaneously, and several water-blue ribbons, hundreds of meters long and several meters wide, stretched out into the air, surrounding the bright moon still water tower with an ethereal Immortal Qi.
The Torrent Gu and Stream Gu on the tiles were activated one after another. The entire shawl was like surging river water, appearing blue with hints of gold under the rainbow light. Golden water vapor steamed upward, wrapping the entire pavilion in a misty, illusory Realm.
Fang Yuan stood before the balcony of the bright moon still water tower and activated a Sound Path Gu worm called Great Sound Gu. This Gu lived up to its name, allowing the speaker's voice to be as loud as a great bell. He said in a clear voice:
"Brother Shang Yan Fei, why not come out for a meeting?"
The nine Rank Two Gu Masters guarding the gate saw the bright moon still water tower in the sky and were as shocked as if they had encountered Godzilla. They hurriedly took out the Rank Two Information Path Gu worm—Camera Gu—created by an otherworldly demon, and recorded this shocking scene in its entirety.
At that moment, a handsome middle-aged man suddenly teleported to the sky above Shang Family City. His gaze swept toward Fang Yuan, who was brewing tea on the balcony. He also activated a Sound Path Gu worm, and his voice spread in all directions:
"Brother Fang Yuan, not seeing you for a year, you have indeed grown quite a bit stronger."
As he spoke, Shang Yan Fei's eyes looked unkind.
"Brother Shang Yan Fei, I have not come this time to fight you, but for the peace talks between the Gu Yue Clan and the Shang Family."
"Oh? Peace talks? Unless you are willing to hand over the blood sea true inheritance, there is nothing to talk about." Shang Yan Fei showed a trace of subtle disdain.
"There is no reason to give away the blood sea true inheritance, but we can trade."
"Your Gu Yue Clan is merely a newly emerged large clan, while my Shang Family is a super force with Gu Immortals backing us. What do you have to negotiate with?"
"Hahaha, Shang Yan Fei, look and see if you recognize this person."
A woman in green slowly stepped onto the balcony of the bright moon still water tower. Her black hair fell like a waterfall to her waist, her skin was whiter than snow, and her lips were as white and translucent as porcelain.
Her eyes stared unblinkingly at Shang Yan Fei. In the depths of her eyes, as clear as pool water, there was a trace of heavy sorrow that could not be dissipated:
"This is my father, the man who broke my mother's heart..."
Shang Yan Fei was suddenly stunned. Gazing into Shang Xin Ci's eyes, beautiful memories of the past flooded into his mind like a tide, and a strong sense of guilt surged in his heart:
"So similar... so very similar... I have already failed one woman; this is a chance sent by heaven for me to make amends..."
A moment later, Shang Yan Fei finally agreed to Fang Yuan's peace talks and also gifted a Purple Gold Token of Shang Family City.
This token represents the status of a Shang Family guest. The holder can enjoy half the treatment of a Shang Family Elder and also receive exclusive discounts when purchasing goods.
Fang Yuan then represented the Gu Yue Clan in establishing an alliance with the Shang Family, agreeing that the two families would help each other and never infringe upon one another.
Once the alliance was formed, Fang Yuan found Wu Ran, who was using the alias Li Ran, in Shang Family City. From him, he obtained that legendary Gu—the Rank Three all-out effort gu—as well as the Rank Four Gu recipe to activate this Gu.
The all-out effort gu is a legendary Gu worm of the ancient Strength Path, capable of producing a beast phantom with one hundred percent certainty.
After obtaining this Gu, Fang Yuan purchased several Strength Path Gu worms, such as the Stone Turtle Strength Gu and the Green Ox Labor Gu.
He successively added five beast strengths: turtle, bull, elephant, tiger, and horse. To activate the all-out effort gu, he also specifically eliminated the Mad Insect Wolf Strength and the strength of one boar.
At this time, he still possessed ten beast strengths: pig, bull, elephant, rabbit, tiger, horse, snake, wolf, bear, and crocodile.
Among them, the snake strength was Blood River Python strength, and the wolf strength was Thunder Crown Head Wolf strength. Except for the Bear Strength, pig strength, and crocodile strength, the other beast strengths were all extraordinary variant beast strengths.
Fang Yuan spent 500,000 Spirit Stones at an auction to win a Rank Four Bitter Strength Gu. The mystery of this Gu is that the heavier the user's injuries, the more beast phantoms are produced, and their own combat power will soar accordingly.
He also purchased a Rank Four golden steel gu to assist in his Strength Path cultivation.
He bought another Horizontal Crash Gu and merged it with the direct impact gu to refine the Rank Four Rampage Gu.
He also acquired a Rank Four Self-Reliance Gu. The wonder of this Gu is that the greater the user's strength, the faster their metabolism becomes, and the healing effect doubles accordingly.
In a subsequent auction, Fang Yuan won a Rank Four Wind Qi Gu and reverse-refined it into a Rank Three strength gu.
The strength gu can materialize beast phantoms. The materialized beast phantoms can fight alongside the Gu Master, causing combat power to explode. Like the all-out effort gu, it is a legendary Strength Path Gu worm.
By now, Fang Yuan had gathered a systematic set of Strength Path Gu worms, truly joining the ranks of Strength Path Gu Masters, and had even refined the Rank Three all-out effort gu to the Rank Four Realm.
Holding this set of Gu worm systems, Fang Yuan engaged in trade with Shang Yan Fei, selling the Gu recipes for Blood Droplets, blood skull gu, blood frenzy gu, Blade Wing Blood Bat Gu, and blood wing gu, obtaining 1.2 million Spirit Stones, and then used this sum to buy a Rank Four Earth Overlord Gu.
The utility of the Earth Overlord Gu is that as long as the Gu Master stands on the ground, they can absorb the earth qi from underground to obtain overlord strength.
Fang Yuan purchased a massive number of Strength Path Gu worms and, after three months, finally created a Strength Path Killer Move—Four-Armed Wind King.
In the original work, Fang Yuan found inspiration from the Three-Headed Six-Armed Killer Move of Liu Wen Wu's three brothers in the third volume and created the Four-Armed Earth King Killer Move.
With this Killer Move, he once tore apart Cheng Hu and Cheng Long amidst ten thousand troops, crushed Eagle King and Horse King to death, and scared Mouse King into fleeing the battlefield despite the risk of a poison vow backlash.
After creating the Four-Armed Earth King Killer Move, Fang Yuan improved it into the Four-Armed Wind King Killer Move.
The power of the Four-Armed Wind King Killer Move created by Fang Yuan at this moment was already similar to that in the original work, and his combat power had reached one-third of the "Elder of Chang Family."
The group stayed in Shang Family City for half a year before setting off back to Gu Yue Village, taking over four thousand people from Huang Family Village with them on the return journey.
Another half year passed, and Huang Family Village was completely annexed by Gu Yue Village.
Next Chapter: Three Kings Mountain.
(Because the author is still a student and there is a shift in the schedule next week, the next update will be in about eight or nine days.)