"Fang Zheng might as well have no romantic interest in women for all that Tie Ruo Nan offers," Hu Mei Er scoffed, flicking her hair. "Have you seen Tie Ruo Nan? She has an ashen complexion and her chest is so flat she might as well be a man."
As she spoke, she surreptitiously ran her right hand across her own voluptuous chest, drawing attention to her generous assets as they pressed softly against Li Xian's arm. Her almond-shaped eyes could suck the soul right out of a man with one glance. Her gentle pink lips seemed to be an open buffet advertising them to come and taste. Her frilly robe made of silk was so light it was nearly equivalent to wearing nothing and left just enough to the imagination as to make her figure even more enticing. Her milk-white skin free of any blemishes, the contour of her chest, the silk that gathered just low enough at her tight waist to reveal a navel as perfectly smooth as a pearl that seemed to wink seductively at them as she exhaled - were laid bare for all to see. She had raised her left arm to cradle her head as she lay down so that the hollow of her soft, inviting, and tender armpit was on full display. The gentle swell of her hips danced for them like a pendulum as she adjusted herself. Her supple and succulent thighs were an easy target of admiration, and even her toes performed for them, curling gracefully into the delicate shape of a lotus in bloom with the slightest blush of pink coloring their jade-like whiteness.
Her appearance had captured the attention of every single man in the cavern.
"Without a doubt, sister Hu Mei Er is far more beautiful than Tie Ruo Nan!"
"If Tie Ruo Nan bound up her chest, she would indeed look just like a man!"
"Tie Ruo Nan is simply an ugly lump of coal compared to Hu Mei Er's jade-like flawlessness!"
"Oh me, oh my, you're making me blush," Hu Mei Er, said pretending to be embarrassed. She looked incredibly cute and appealing as she bashfully tried to hide a bit of her face. Seeing her, many of the demonic path Gu Masters were now completely enamored with this appearance of hers and most were thinking of taking her at the very moment!
Li Xian sighed inwardly, seeing through the facade instantly, but many of these strangers were not aware of what Hu Mei Er was like.
"With that said, Tie Ruo Nan does have a mighty fine pair of legs," one of the demonic Gu Masters remarked, licking his lips. "I would certainly like a taste of her."
"Hmph - the daughter of the Divine Investigator? Dream on!"
"Is that what's going on, then?" another asked, trying to shift the conversation in a more productive direction. "Could it be that Tie Xue Leng enlisted Fang Zheng's help in securing the inheritance, and in exchange, he'll let Fang Zheng marry Tie Ruo Nan? That would allow Fang Zheng to marry into the Tie clan!"
The Tie clan was one of the most powerful super clans in the Southern Border. Countless cultivators would kill for a chance to join them. They didn't have an external elder system like the Shang clan or the Wu clan, but it wasn't unheard of for them to adopt an outside Gu Master who had proven their worth.
"One part of that statement doesn't sit right, though," Li Xian interjected. "Fang Zheng is Rank 5. If anything, it should be Tie Xue Leng offering him entry into the Tie clan, not Fang Zheng begging for it."
Rank 5 Gu Masters were like emperors amongst the mortal realm; there were scarcely a hundred of them across the entire Southern Border. An additional Rank 5 Gu Master could dramatically bolster a clan's foundation, especially given the fact that Tie Xue Leng's demise seemed to be on the horizon. Fang Zheng could easily become an external elder for any of the major clans if he desired!
"And as it stands, I've heard he already has deep ties with the Shang clan," Li Xian added.
The demonic path Gu Masters continued conversing, trying to console one another in their shared frustration. Yet no matter how much they talked, none could find a solution to the obstacle named Fang Zheng.
"To think he has such guts... I've heard Senior Mo Wu Tian is coming to this mountain soon. He may have cultivated to Rank 5 already. If so, he could give Fang Zheng a run for his money."
"Mo Wu Tian? His star has been rising in the demonic path lately, but he only recently reached Rank 5. Who knows whether he has the strength to face Fang Zheng - especially if Fang Zheng has a Rank 5 Gu worm."
"How could Fang Zheng obtain a Rank 5 Gu worm so easily and so soon?"
Most present thought such a thing was impossible.
Li Xian shook his head. "Do not assume Fang Zheng is that simple. He has his twin brother backing him, as well as Tie Xue Leng. Tie Xue Leng cannot use many of his own gu worms without facing immense backlash due to his injuries. Do you think it would be odd if he lent one to Fang Zheng as a fallback?"
Everyone fell silent. If Fang Zheng possessed even a single Rank 5 Gu worm, it would massively elevate his battle strength. None of them would have the courage to so much as look in his direction.
Even now, all they could do was squat at the foot of the mountain and wait for Fang Zheng to grow bored of guarding the entrance to the Three Kings Inheritance.
Two days passed without any change in the status quo.
However on the third day, something significant occurred near the peak of the mountain.
A massive chariot drawn by two snake-like creatures approached. These were Azure Sky Serpents, equivalent to myriad beast kings. They had two wings at the back of their frames that allowed them to fly, and would oftentimes be confused for true dragons though they were noticeably weaker.
The chariot bore the emblem of the Wu clan, radiating an authority that spoke of immense affluence and power. The chariot was actually Rank 4 Sky Chariot Gu, large enough to comfortably accommodate several hundred people.
It landed a short distance from the three pillars of light that were still remaining. Fang Yuan's greatest soldier, Fang Zheng, made no attempt to stop it. He sat leisurely before the pillars, a paintbrush in hand and a small desk set up before him.
He watched as the doors of the Sky Chariot Gu opened and a line of Wu clan elders stepped out to pave the way for a figure who stepped forward.
It was a woman of grandiose presence, adorned in luxurious robes and radiating the aura of a Rank 5 Peak Stage Gu Master. Every inch of her exuded radiance and imperial authority with one exception: her nose had been cut off.
This was none other than the Empress Wu Ji, the current leader of the Wu clan. She had deliberately disfigured her own nose in her youth to appear unfit to inherit the clan leadership, thereby escaping execution during internal power struggles. Once she successfully seized control of the Wu clan, she chose to leave the scar unhealed as a reminder of those brutal days, despite how effortlessly healing gu could have restored it.
Several Wu clan elders bowed their heads as she walked past them. As she stepped forward, her frosty gaze fixed upon Fang Zheng, who remained entirely unmoved.
Slowly and deliberately, she walked over to Fang Zheng's desk and knocked on the wood, interrupting his painting.
Fang Zheng looked up, appearing mildly confused, as if he hadn't noticed her arrival and was merely enjoying a casual painting session in the park.
"Why, if it isn't Senior Sister Wu Ji," Fang Zheng said with a gentle smile. "Come, have a seat."
She made no movement to show that she had any intention to sit down. Instead, she said coldly, "Fang Zheng, you are the man known as the Insane Reverend, are you not?"
"Indeed I am," Fang Zheng answered. That was correct, he had taken over his brother's role.
"Then you are the one who caused Wu Ran's death."
"Indeed I am," Fang Zheng replied smoothly. That was a lie, his brother had caused it - not that Wu Ji had any way of confirming that.
"And you are the one who caused the loss of our clan's All-Out Effort Gu?"
"Indeed I am," Fang Zheng answered, lying once more and unhesitatingly taking the blame for his elder brother's actions.
The Wu clan elders standing behind Wu Ji began to break into a cold sweat. Despite the terrifying intensity of Wu Ji's gaze, Fang Zheng didn't break character at all, remaining perfectly relaxed and practically spitting in her face by openly admitting to defying her clan in so many ways.
Several bold demonic path Gu Masters who had lingered near the peak to observe the situation whispered among themselves:
"Hey, what's going on?"
"To think Wu Ji herself would come... sigh, this really is the end for the demonic path. How can we possibly contend against so many Rank 5 Gu Masters?"
"I don't think she's here to help Fang Zheng," one noted.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Think about it. The righteous path isn't a unified faction; they have their own internal conflicts. Right now, Fang Zheng is supported by the Tie clan, so he favors them. He's also affiliated with the Shang clan. Didn't you see how the Shang and Tie clans got priority when it came time to enter the inheritance? Everyone else had to wait in line without any favoritism - including the Wu clan. As one of the super forces of the Southern Border, how could the Wu clan accept such loss of face?"
"To think that the Empress Wu Ji herself was forced to come to challenge Fang Zheng..."
"Oho! It seems that no matter how much Fang Zheng mocked women before, he's about to get his face caved in by one!" another said excitedly.
"Assuming he doesn't just back down," someone added.
"Although I dislike Fang Zheng, I do think he's right about women," another chimed in. "That said, if she and Fang Zheng fight, I'm definitely rooting for her!"