The battlefield was nothing but a desolate graveyard of the fallen. The scent of blood hung thick in the air, mixing with the smoldering remnants of flesh. Fang Yuan stood at the center, his newly transformed body exuding a chilling aura. He flexed his fingers, still adjusting to the sensation of his altered physique. The Yin Yang Rotation Gu had done its work, reshaping both him and Bai Ning Bing into forms that defied their past selves. Yet, there was no time to dwell on such trivial matters.
They had to erase their traces—completely.
With a wave of his hand, a series of Gu worms activated, dissolving corpses into nothing but dust, the battlefield turning into an unmarked wasteland. Blood was devoured by tiny, gluttonous insects, leaving no evidence of the massacre. The air shimmered as illusions were cast, distorting the battlefield's history, making it appear as if no battle had ever occurred. The clans searching for them would find nothing but misleading trails.
"Thorough as always," Bai Ning Bing muttered, adjusting the loose folds of her robe, her voice now carrying a sharp, feminine lilt. She still wasn't used to this, but there was no going back—not yet.
Fang Yuan didn't respond. He was already moving, his eyes locked onto his next goal—Fang Zheng. His foolish, naïve younger brother still clung to his outdated morals, a weakness that could no longer be tolerated. He had spared him before, but there was no room for such mercy now.
It didn't take long to find him. Fang Zheng had gone into hiding, but against Fang Yuan's methods, no veil could last.
When he finally cornered his brother, there was no dramatic confrontation, no drawn-out speech of regret or hatred. Fang Zheng barely had time to widen his eyes before a precise strike to the throat silenced him forever.
Fang Yuan watched the light fade from Fang Zheng's eyes without a flicker of emotion. He looted his corpse, extracted the vital Gu he needed, and vanished into the night, his deed done.
With Fang Zheng's demise, the Gu Yue Clan was left crippled. Using what little remained of the clan, Fang Yuan ensured that they either served his cause or perished. The last remnants of his former ties were severed, their fates sealed by his meticulous planning.
With the past buried, it was time to move forward.
The journey to the Shang Clan was a calculated one. Traveling under assumed identities, Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing moved swiftly, avoiding unwanted attention. Bai Ning Bing, still adjusting to her new body, would often cast sharp glances his way, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.
"You could've at least left me an option," she huffed, crossing her arms.
Fang Yuan's lips curled into an amused smirk. "An option? Life never gave me one. Why should I offer you such a luxury?"
Bai Ning Bing clicked her tongue but said nothing more. She knew better than to argue with a demon like him.
As they neared the territory of the Shang Clan, Fang Yuan's mind was already calculating his next moves. "I should follow the path set in my future memories. Though it may seem like a waste of time, it remains an opportunity to establish valuable information channels. If I intend to influence the Shang Clan, it will be beneficial. Additionally, I must obtain the Divine Travel Gu from the Three Kings Inheritance. While I possess the means to refine the Fixed Immortal Travel Gu without it, leaving an Immortal Gu behind would be foolish. If I can claim it for free, why ignore such a chance?"
His immediate plan was clear. First, he would encounter Shang Xin Ci, ensuring their acquaintance and subtly influencing her rise to power. Her eventual position as clan leader would provide him the strongest political leverage within the Shang Clan, aligning precisely with the future he had glimpsed. Once that foundation was set, he would proceed to the Three Kings Inheritance to claim what was rightfully his.
As planned, Fang Yuan seamlessly ingratiated himself with Shang Xin Ci, eliminating those around her who could pose a threat or obstruct his influence. Before initiating this phase, he used a Rank 4 Transformation Path Gu worm—Gender Bender Gu—to revert to his male form. He deliberately left Bai Ning Bing unchanged, knowing that her striking appearance would draw attention away from him, allowing him to operate in the shadows.
Ensuring Shang Xin Ci's safe passage to Shang Clan Mountain, Fang Yuan subtly manipulated events to solidify her position. Once he was certain she had arrived without issue, he withdrew with Bai Ning Bing, opting not to enter directly. Instead, he lingered outside the clan's territory, crafting the illusion that he was merely a passing traveler.
During his time outside, a reckless individual provoked him, challenging his strength. Fang Yuan, ever the strategist, used the opportunity to enter the arena, accepting the challenge under the pretense of proving himself. The fight was swift and decisive—he crushed his opponent without mercy, asserting his dominance in the region.
With his reputation beginning to spread, Fang Yuan and Bai Ning Bing remained in the city, slowly weaving themselves into the arena's competitive circuits. Their debut in the Arena marked the start of a new phase in their rise, granting them an entry point into the Shang Clan's inner city slowly.