Fang Yuan was Rank 5 Upper Stage now after all, meaning anything that he was going to scheme likely superseded what she could imagine. However, no matter how much she tried to be on guard against Fang Yuan, looking at the problem from different angles, she could not settle on anything.
The reason why she was unable to understand Fang Yuan's intentions was her lack of information regarding the Goody Two-Shoes System, as well as a lack of understanding of what it meant to go from Rank 5 to Rank 6. She did understand the difference between mortal and Immortal to a very small extent, using information she had gotten from Shang Clan City and from the Bai Clan Ancestor's inheritance.
However, the details were still obscured to her, and as far as she understood attempting to ascend to Rank 6 was extraordinarily risky with a success rate of less than one in ten without outside help.
Because of this, it did not cross her mind that Fang Yuan intended to get to Rank 6 as quickly as possible.
Fang Yuan, for his part, was considering selling his extra Purple Crystal Relic Gu. It would take care of most of his funds for now, and he could claim that he had managed to capture it near his village if anyone asked about where he had obtained it.
'However, that's unnecessary,' he thought to himself.
Fang Yuan was in a bit of an awkward position when it came to his cultivation. The Righteous Virtue Physique had allowed him to reach Rank 5 Upper Stage. He was sure that with a bit more effort, even without having to use his extra Purple Crystal Relic Gu, he could get to Rank 5 Peak Stage within a span of only six to eight months.
Ordinarily, he would spend his time trying to collect a full set of Rank 5 gu worms. However, this was no longer necessary as he could get to Rank 6 quite soon.
He had several Rank 6 gu worms; he was simply unable to use them, putting him in a unique position where it was actually to his benefit to rocket through Rank 5 to become an Immortal, 'So long as the portraits fill up,' he thought to himself. "With the help of two Venerables, my ascension to Rank 6 is guaranteed!"
Of course, Fang Yuan was no idiot. Paradise Earth Immortal Venerable and Genesis Lotus Immortal Venerable intended to help him, but they also were going to get something out of it.
However, that was fine with Fang Yuan. Sometimes one needed to be used in order to obtain the greatest benefits for oneself.
And the true freedom that he desired could not be obtained within the world of mortals. He had to become an Immortal in order to become a real player in the world's affairs.
For most of his life he had been a mortal Gu Master. It was only after ascending that he realized just how huge the world was, and how small of a pond he had been swimming in.
The world of Immortals could not be compared to that of mortals.
As for the supposed Rank 9 Gu that he had been offered by the System, he had doubts regarding its authenticity.
The System had not lied to him up until this point, but at the same time, he had not verified that it had given him any Immortal Gu.
It was just that Rank nine Gu worms were that valuable, to the point that anyone would have a hard time believing that someone had one.
And as far as Fang Yuan could tell, the System could be tricked by the actions of Venerables, and so it could not be said to be equivalent to a true Rank 9 expert's powers, meaning the System was not omnipotent and could not grant him anything that he wanted.
This made the theoretical existence of a Rank 9 Gu even less likely, especially as, for whatever reason, the System was not telling him what Rank 9 Gu it was.
Their return to Shang Clan City was not impeded in any way.
News of Fang Yuan advancing to Rank 5 Upper Stage naturally spread throughout the city once he arrived, reaching Shang Yan Fei. "So he has managed to surpass me in cultivation," he thought to himself. "Perhaps the time is right to rope Fang Yuan into the Shang Clan."
Fang Yuan was not a Demonic Gu Master, so he couldn't be introduced into the External Elder system.
As far as Shang Yan Fei knew, Fang Yuan was quite devoted to his own Gu Yue Clan. That wasn't to say that he couldn't bring the Gu Yue Clan in as an ally of the Shang Clan; Fang Yuan simply needed to be convinced of the benefits to do so over time.
Once he landed in the city, Fang Yuan immediately went to deal with the management of the Beggar Sect.
First of all, he recruited Zhou Quan into Shang Xin Ci's service.
Although Zhou Quan seemed to be reluctant, he could do little but eventually cave before Fang Yuan's Rank 5 cultivation.
"Darn it," he cursed himself inwardly. If he were still Rank 4, there may have been a chance for him to resist somewhat, especially since Fang Yuan could not do whatever he liked given the restrictions of the righteous path.
That didn't mean that Fang Yuan was helpless. At Rank 5 Upper Stage Fang Yuan could place pressure even on Shang Yan Fei. He could make life very difficult for Zhou Quan in roundabout ways, as an honored guest with a Purple Thorn Token. This was the way of the Righteous Path.
Even back on Earth, many countries did not openly threaten one another, instead using 'soft power' in the sense of culture, trade, or currency to put pressure on each other.
If Zhou Quan wanted to continue staying within Shang Clan City peacefully, he had no choice but to fold.
With Zhou Quan, the Beggar Sect now had a capable person who could handle their affairs.
Zhou Quan would wake up each morning to see a few beggars at his doorstep. They would whisper their secrets to him under the guise of begging for alms, and in this way, Zhou Quan would remain in touch with the Beggar Sect's secrets without arousing much suspicion.
If anything, his reputation gained as being quite generous bit him back in some of his business dealings as certain people felt they could take advantage of his kindness.
***
Fang Yuan sat in his room, ingredients arranged around him.
First of all were three Rank 2 Cricket Gu, which had the effect of generating large amounts of sound.
Second was Resonant Brass, a special kind of metal known for its musical qualities.
Third was Rank 3 Trumpet Gu, which could amplify one's voice.
Fang Yuan was relying upon a gu recipe from the future. It had been developed by a Gu Master in the Eastern Sea who later on became a Sound Path Gu Immortal before being killed by Fang Yuan.
As he tossed the ingredients in, the ball of light expanding as Fang Yuan threw in primeval stones, it finally contracted and a gu worm landed on the floor.
It had the appearance of a cricket, but had eight pairs of legs rather than three. Additionally, its wings were folded to form a miniature zither on its back.
Fang Yuan had prepared another set of refinement materials in case this failed, but being a Rank 4 refinement, this naturally had a higher rate of success than Rank 5 gu. 'It looks like my luck has not necessarily failed after all... hmm... why the dead Frost Arrow Gu then... ah, it could just be failing that one time. Luck is fickle after all...'
The gu worm let out a sonorous note as Fang Yuan mulled over recent events.
Rank 4 Cricket Zither Gu!