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[RI: UV] Ch 18: Immortal Crane Sect
🕑 Added 2025-02-05 03:48:17 +0000 UTC— — — — — — —
South of the Central Continent - Immortal Crane Sect
"This Feng Jiu Ge has gone too far!" The supreme first elder's face flushed with rage. His trembling hands gripped a thin letter.
The letter radiated an azure-green hue, a clear sign it had been delivered using the Rank Five Letter-Sending Green Bird Gu.
The demands inside were overbearing, yet the first elder didn’t dare destroy it—Feng Jiu Ge would sense it immediately. Provoking him could lead to catastrophic consequences, especially with the other sects eyeing them now.
"This Feng Jiu Ge..." the elder seethed. "Born into the demonic path. After seizing a rare opportunity, he cultivated in secret, emerging as a Rank Six Gu Immortal and shaking the world."
"He challenged countless experts and crushed them all. Even when the ten great sects joined forces, they couldn't stop him."
He paused, eyes narrowing with frustration. "He traveled over ten million miles, launching devastating surprise attacks. It was chaos—no one could stand against him."
The supreme second elder chimed in, his tone calm. "Fortunately, Bai Qing of Spirit Affinity House used love to control him and pull him from the demonic path. Otherwise, Feng Jiu Ge would still be our nightmare."
The first elder's face darkened. "That was then. Now, with Rank Seven cultivation and the backing of Spirit Affinity House, he's grown even more arrogant. Yet what choice do we have? With his strength and influence, he's untouchable unless we really try to kill him but this is against the rules. "
A tense silence settled over the Pavilion.
Suddenly, a thunderous voice shattered the quiet, rattling the windows.
"He Feng Yang, how did things twist so far out of control under your watch?" a Rank Six Gu Immortal of the sect, glared furiously. "Fang Yuan isn't even one of us! Why risk the benefits of the sect to defend him?"
"Announcing that he is our disciple? Why?"
All eyes turned to He Feng Yang.
He Feng Yang, appearing as a young man with jade-colored brows flowing down to his waist, remained composed.
A faint smile played on his lips, oddly out of place amidst the tension. He glanced around slowly before speaking.
"True, Fang Yuan isn't our disciple," he said smoothly. "But his brother, Fang Zheng, is and he leads our current generation of elite disciples."
The Rank 6 immortal, Lei Tan snorted. "And you think this elite disciple's brother is worth endangering the entire Immortal Crane Sect? Do you even grasp how much compensation we owe the nine other sects because of this Fang Yuan?"
He Feng Yang cast a dismissive glance. "I understand perfectly. Yet even if that cost tripled, it wouldn’t compare to what we stand to gain from the Hu Immortal Blessed Land. Not to mention the Fixed Immortal Travel Gu and the Divine Travel Gu we were refining."
"We have to protect Fang Yuan."
The room buzzed with murmurs as realization dawned among the elders.
Lei Tan's patience wore thin. "What exactly are you implying?"
He Feng Yang smiled knowingly and was about to begin his show but the supreme third elder spoke first with a chuckle. "I see it now. By protecting Fang Yuan, you've eliminated competition from the other sects without lifting a finger for The Hu Immortal Blessed Land."
He Feng Yang bowed slightly toward the third elder. "Your insight is sharp as ever."
"Who would've thought a mere mortal would ascend Dang Hun Mountain, have the Fixed Immortal Travel Gu, and claim the Hu Immortal inheritance under the noses of Central Continent's Gu Immortals?"
His tone grew serious. "That blessed land lies on Tian Ti Mountain, once directly connected to Heavenly Court. Though in ruins now, attacking it would be like defying Heavenly Court itself."
"That’s why, despite its treasures, none of the sects dared make a direct move."
He fixed his gaze on Lei Tan. "Even if we wanted to attack, we'd need at least three Rank Six Gu Immortals to breach its defenses. The land spirit and Dang Hun Mountain form an impenetrable barrier. Could you, Lei Tan, scale that mountain alone?"
Lei Tan grunted, offering no retort.
A blessed land's land spirit controlled its resources, its strength rivaling a Gu Immortal's. Worse, it suppressed Gu worms below Rank Six, leaving only Immortal Gu effective. But not every Gu Immortal had powerful offensive Immortal Gu, making direct assaults a costly gamble. And the immortal essence required? Astronomical.
Seeing Lei Tan's silence, He Feng Yang continued, "When Fang Yuan seized the inheritance, he ordered the land spirit to seal the blessed land. The other sects suspected he was part of our scheme due to his resemblance to Fang Zheng. I could've revealed the truth and reignited the competition, but instead, I let their misconception grow. By claiming Fang Yuan as ours, we've shut them out completely."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "Now, we control the situation."
Lei Tan frowned deeply. "Even so, the Hu Immortal Blessed Land remains sealed. Without an opening, how do you plan to enter?"
He Feng Yang's eyes gleamed. "Every blessed land faces calamities and tribulations. Hu Immortal herself perished during her fifth earthly calamity."
"Based on my calculations, the next calamity is in a year and three months. Fang Yuan, a mere mortal, won’t survive it alone. When the calamity strikes, the blessed land will weaken—that’s our chance."
Lei Tan crossed his arms. "And if a loophole appears, will you risk attacking? It's still on Tian Ti Mountain."
"Attacking is a last resort," He Feng Yang replied calmly. "Fang Yuan will seek help when the calamity approaches. That's when we step in. We'll send Fang Zheng to sway his heart, to draw him toward our sect. With time and cooperation, Fang Yuan will grow dependent on us. He may even submit willingly."
His smile darkened. "And if not? There are other means. The Slavery Gu, for instance. Fang Yuan is still a mortal; controlling him would be simple. Once he's ours, the Fixed Immortal Travel Gu and Divine Travel Gu will naturally follow."
A ripple of greed passed through the elders as they considered the prized Gu worms.
Lei Tan, though frustrated, couldn’t argue. "You make it sound easy. Let's hope it is."
The supreme third elder, intrigued yet cautious, added, "The Fixed Immortal Travel Gu is powerful, but activating it requires immortal essence. How did a mortal like Fang Yuan know the Hu Immortal Blessed Land so well? His timing was too perfect. Could this be a demonic path ploy?"
He Feng Yang bowed slightly. "Junior is unsure. We only had clues about the Blood Sea inheritance. Years ago, when a disciple defected to Southern Border, I sent Lord Sky Crane after him, but he failed. Fang Yuan ultimately acquired the Blood Skull Gu."
His voice darkened. "This Fang Yuan… he annihilated his clan to boost his aptitude. Ruthless beyond measure, yet until now, just an ant beneath our notice."
The room fell silent.
Finally, the supreme grand elder spoke. "He Feng Yang, your plan holds promise. You will oversee this matter. Succeed in securing the Hu Immortal Blessed Land, and the sect will reward you handsomely."
He Feng Yang bowed deeply. "Your junior will not disappoint."
The grand elder's voice turned cold. "One more thing—since this task is yours, you will hand over your One's Own Way Gu. Feng Jiu Ge has demanded it."
One's Own Way was an Immortal Gu that allowed a mortal Gu worm to function independently without heavenly restrictions in the blessed land.
He Feng Yang could only accept with a bitter smile, his heart a mix of frustration and ambition. The loss of his One's Own Way Immortal Gu stung, but to him, it was a small price for the grand prize ahead.
He envisioned his future—once Fang Yuan was under his control, the Hu Immortal Blessed Land, the Fixed Immortal Travel Gu, the Divine Travel Gu, and every one of Fang Yuan’s secrets would be his.
“Endure a small loss now for a future filled with glory,” he thought. A sly smile crept across his face as he imagined the day he’d take everything that the mere mortal named Fang Yuan possessed.
After anding over the Gu, he left.
— — —
The second elder looked at the first elder and asked, “Is there any news from the Heavenly Court?”
The first elder just sighed. “No, but they opened the letter and didn’t give any response.”
“Without their permission, we can’t attack the blessed land.”
The third elder nodded. “It’s a pity—I wanted to attack and seize the Immortal Gu."
"The blessed land itself isn’t that worthwhile. What we really want is that mountain within it, and now, that Fang Yuan.”
The first elder replied, “We can only take things slowly now. Maybe the Heavenly Court will reply soon and grant us permission. An immortal from the Heavenly Court was watching that day with us, so there must be something we don’t know.”
“No need to assume anything now. We can only leave that matter to He Feng Yang.”
“Indeed.”
With that, the decision of the Immortal Sect on how to deal with Fang Yuan was made—actually, it had been decided by the Heavenly Court even before their meeting or maybe before Fang Yuan even got the blessed land.
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