NOVEL WEB Chapter 59: The Owner Token
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Fang Yuan was on the verge of obtaining all the information necessary to maximize the benefits from the blessed land.
He had collected all of Lang Ya's knowledge about the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building, revisited stored memories of the Central Continent Gu Immortals' attack on the Imperial Court Blessed Land, and uncovered every hidden secret tied to this place from the plot.
There was just one last piece to complete the puzzle: Mo Yao.
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Di Qiu
Fang Yuan stood at the location that had been etched into his mind by the Painting Idea Gu. This was the site of the Di Qiu inheritance, exactly as shown on the map.
Normally, opening the Di Qiu inheritance would require using the power of the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building's second floor. That's where Mo Yao had set up her arrangements.
"Here I am," Fang Yuan muttered to himself, a trace of nostalgia in his voice. "The same path... but this time, the outcome will be different."
Without hesitation, he stepped into the depths of Di Qiu.
The A.I. Chip's simulated voice echoed in his mind as he moved.
"Eighty-Eight True Yang Building simulation update. Probability of success: 96.7%."
Fang Yuan smirked, impressed yet again by the chip's capabilities. "It really is heaven-defying," he thought. "To simulate the entire Eighty-Eight True Yang Building, predict every possibility, and let me experience countless scenarios... The 88 True Yang Building is already as good as mine."
During the last three months in Lang Ya Blessed Land, Fang Yuan had meticulously refined every detail of his plan, leaving nothing to chance. That was the reason of his absolute confidence.
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Navigating the cave was straightforward. Mo Yao's preparations had ensured everything was ready for the "fated one." From the Painting Idea Gu to pinpoint the location, to the Light Path Inheritance that illuminated the dark passages, it was as if she had designed the route to ensure he wouldn't miss it.
After traversing the dark cave, Fang Yuan finally reached the inheritance ground. He activated the mechanisms Mo Yao had left behind, setting the stage for the next step.
The soil and rocks around Di Qiu began to shift and expand. The cave entrance sealed itself shut with an ominous boom. Deep underground, three lights swirled together, their glow growing brighter until they merged into a brilliant transformation.
Then, as quickly as it began, the light vanished, revealing a gaping void of pure darkness.
"My turn," Fang Yuan said with a grin.
Fang Yuan channeled his immortal essence, manipulating it with precise control to bypass the usual requirements. Normally, this would require waiting for the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building's second floor to appear, but Fang Yuan's methods made that unnecessary.
"Good thing Mo Yao designed this place to suppress any traces of immortal aura," Fang Yuan thought, a hint of gratitude in his mind. Even though he had used dark path methods to hide his presence, the additional safety net was invaluable.
Minutes later, the ground above sealed itself once more, and the whole cave vanished as if it had never existed.
Fang Yuan had a smile that hinted at his growing confidence. "I wonder how chaotic things must be outside the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building right now," he mused.
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Eighty-Eight True Yang Building was an Immortal Gu House, located at the peak of the eighth-level Sacred Palace.
The Sacred Palace functioned as the gateway to the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building.
The Sacred Palace was the residence of Giant Sun Immortal Venerable. Its grandeur was awe-inspiring; the structure had eight levels, each approximately two kilometers tall.
The entire palace resembled a massive mountain, its peak piercing the heavens. From a distance, it seemed to rise directly from the earth, blending into the skyline. At present, the Dong Fang tribe controlled this iconic place as the winner of Imperial Court.
-Inside the Sacred Palace-
In a private chamber adorned with golden murals and glowing inscriptions, Dong Fang She, an elder of the Dong Fang tribe, sat at a luxurious jade desk. His expression was calm but sharp, his eyes radiating authority.
Standing before him were Hei Lou Lan and Tai Bai Yun Sheng.
Hei Lou Lan's imposing aura filled the room. Her eyes burned with determination as she crossed her arms, standing tall. Tai Bai Yun Sheng, in contrast, exuded calm wisdom, his hands clasped behind his back as he maintained a polite demeanor.
"Elder Dong Fang She, we won't waste your time," Hei Lou Lan began, her voice firm and commanding. "We need a guest token to enter the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building. I trust you understand the urgency."
Dong Fang She raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his seat. "The Eighty-Eight True Yang Building is not a market where tokens are handed out freely. Each one is precious, and competition is fierce. Even if I wished to help you, there are... limitations."
"Besides being the leader of the Hei tribe, you have the Huang Jin bloodline! Why do you need a guest token?"
Hei Lou Lan looked irritated. "Huh? That's not your f*cking problem."
Tai Bai Yun Sheng stepped forward, his tone gentle but persuasive. "Elder, I've seen how diligently you manage the affairs of the Sacred Palace. Your wisdom and foresight are unmatched. Surely, you know that allowing us entry would bring benefits, not trouble."
Dong Fang She chuckled lightly, tapping his fingers on the desk. "Flattery, Master Tai Bai, is an art you've mastered well. However, the Dong Fang tribe cannot act recklessly. What assurance can you offer me that granting this token won't bring complications?"
Hei Lou Lan stepped closer, her presence dominating the room. "Assurance?" she scoffed. "I've fought for my position and earned my place through blood and sweat. If you need assurance, here it is: my strength speaks for itself. You wouldn't want to see me as an adversary."
Dong Fang She's eyes narrowed slightly, yet he remained unfazed. "A bold statement, Hei Lou Lan. But I value diplomacy over threats." He glanced at Tai Bai Yun Sheng, clearly favoring the healer's approach.
Tai Bai Yun Sheng smiled faintly, cutting through the tension. "Elder, we are not here to make enemies, only allies. Hei Lou Lan's talents and my expertise could be valuable assets to your tribe. With your support, we could uncover secrets within the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building that might otherwise remain hidden."
Dong Fang She leaned forward, his gaze shifting between them. "You present a compelling argument. Yet, guest tokens are limited, and distributing them arbitrarily could weaken the tribe's position. Why should I risk this for you?"
Hei Lou Lan smirked. "Because you know I don't fail, Dong Fang She. If I enter that building, I'll succeed, and the Dong Fang tribe will benefit from my success. That's a guarantee you can't ignore."
The elder considered her words carefully before letting out a long sigh. "Very well. I will arrange for the token. But remember, the Dong Fang tribe takes such matters seriously. If you cause trouble, there will be consequences."
Tai Bai Yun Sheng bowed slightly. "Thank you, Elder Dong Fang She. You have my word that we will proceed with caution and respect."
Dong Fang She nodded, his expression softening slightly. "I expect nothing less from someone of your reputation, Tai Bai Yun Sheng. As for Hei Lou Lan... I trust your strength will justify my decision."
With that, the meeting concluded. As they left the chamber, Hei Lou Lan grinned confidently at Tai Bai Yun Sheng.
"Not bad, old Tai Bai. You handled that better than I expected," she remarked, her tone carrying a rare hint of approval.
Tai Bai Yun Sheng chuckled softly. "And you showed remarkable restraint. Honestly, I didn't think the Hei tribe leader was the type to negotiate. I always heard you relied on violence to solve everything."
Hei Lou Lan smirked, her sharp eyes gleaming. "There's a time for using violence, old man. This wasn't it."
As they spoke, both froze mid-step, their expressions reflecting sheer disbelief.
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The entire Sacred Palace erupted into chaos.
Gu Masters rushed around in panic, their faces pale with fear. Murmurs turned into shouts, and in mere moments, a loud commotion swept through the grand halls.
"What… what the hell is going on?!"
A scene never before witnessed was unfolding right before their eyes.
The Eighty-Eight True Yang Building had been activated! The first floor was gradually condensing into form, its ethereal silhouette becoming solid. Yet, this should be impossible.
Typically, only the lord of the Imperial Court—currently Dong Fang Yu Liang—had the authority to open the building.
Dong Fang Yu Liang's brows furrowed deeply as he turned to the elder beside him. His normally calm demeanor cracked, replaced by anger and urgency.
"What happened?!" he bellowed. "Investigate this immediately! I must know what's going on. How could this happen without my permission?"
Dong Fang Yu Liang, as a wisdom path Gu Master, quickly took a deep breath to steady himself. His sharp mind kicked into gear as he began issuing precise orders to investigate the situation.
But before anyone could even begin their inquiries, another shocking event unfolded.
The second floor followed the first, materializing into form.
The scene left everyone speechless. Silence fell like a heavy shroud over the Sacred Palace.
Gu Masters stood frozen, their expressions ranging from disbelief to outright terror. They could only stare at the surreal phenomenon, their minds struggling to comprehend what they were witnessing.
"Is the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building… damaged?" someone muttered, their voice trembling.
"Could it be… that even the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building cannot resist the flow of time?"
Panic spread like wildfire. Many Gu Masters clutched their heads, their eyes wide with fear. The once-imposing and indestructible Eighty-Eight True Yang Building now seemed fragile, its grandeur shaken by an inexplicable event.
Hei Lou Lan and Tai Bai Yun Sheng exchanged a glance. Their expressions hinted at the same unsettling thought: Who—or what—was behind this unprecedented disruption?
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The unexpected development left Dong Fang Yu Liang frozen in disbelief. He quickly glanced at his owner token, his face twisting with shock and frustration.
"No control… I have no control over the first floor?! Damn it! Who… how?! This has never happened before!"
Even as a wisdom path Gu Master, Dong Fang Yu Liang struggled to maintain his composure. His usually calm mind was clouded by the sheer impossibility of the situation.
To understand the gravity of the issue, one must know the rules of the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building. When a descendant of Giant Sun Immortal Venerable clears a floor, their owner token advances into a one-edge owner token, granting control over that floor.
This progression also unlocks access to the treasure room, where the descendant can claim a reward without any exchange. If one were to clear ten floors, the owner token would evolve into a ten-edge owner token, allowing the retrieval of a complete Giant Sun inheritance.
But now, something unprecedented had occurred. The first floor had been cleared, yet Dong Fang Yu Liang's owner token remained unchanged—it had not advanced into a one-edge owner token.
"If this keeps happening," Dong Fang Yu Liang muttered through gritted teeth, "the chance to obtain a Giant Sun inheritance will vanish completely!"
Panic and anger surged through him. The implications were dire, and the thought of being unable to fulfill his ambitions filled him with dread. But as furious as he was, there was someone even more enraged than him.
Hei Lou Lan.
Her fiery gaze burned with fury as she clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her usually steely composure cracked under the weight of her rage.
"Damn it! How can this happen?!" she roared, her voice echoing through the Sacred Palace. "This ruins everything! Now, even if I kill or imprison Dong Fang Yu Liang as planned, it'll be useless!"
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