Early winter grew colder.
The number of crippled wolves around Gu Yue Village increased day by day. Almost every few days, news of another attack would spread. Some were only small wolf packs harassing hunters. Some were worse, causing mortal villages near the mountain foot to suffer losses.
The clan began recalling Gu Masters who had retired from the front line not long ago.
Gu Yue Jiang He was one of them.
He was in his early 30s, a Rank 2 middle stage Gu Master. In the past, he had also fought for the clan, but after leaving frontline missions, he had sold most of his combat Gu and moved to a safer position inside the clan.
Unfortunately, the wolf tide did not care whether someone had retired.
With Gu Masters dying or being injured one after another, the clan needed manpower. Jiang He was placed into the first batch of recalled Gu Masters.
So he came to Fang Ming.
By now, Fang Ming's reputation as a middleman had already spread. Many recalled Gu Masters had approached him recently, asking him to find defensive Gu, attack Gu, movement Gu, or other resources.
Fang Ming accepted their requests on the surface.
But he did not work on them.
He did not even try.
That stage was already over. His image as a middleman had been established, and since people already believed it, there was no need to continue wasting time seriously pretending. His business had always existed mainly to sell his own extra Gu and hide other things.
Solid Rock Skin Gu was one of those extra Gu.
After copying Burning Stone Skin Gu, Solid Rock Skin Gu had lost its position. Fang Ming's current defense used Burning Stone Skin Gu as the first layer and Burning Steam Gu as the second layer. Solid Rock Skin Gu was still useful, but no longer necessary to him.
Keeping it meant feeding it.
Selling it was better.
Jiang He looked at the Gu container in front of him, then looked at Fang Ming.
"This is truly Rank 2 Solid Rock Skin Gu?"
Fang Ming nodded.
"A defensive skin Gu. Simple, direct, and reliable. For someone rebuilding combat ability in a short time, it is one of the better choices."
Jiang He's expression was ugly.
He knew Fang Ming's price was not friendly.
But he also knew he did not have many choices.
The clan's summons had already come. Once assigned to missions, he could not face wolves with an empty aperture and old experience alone. A defensive Gu might be expensive, but it was still cheaper than dying.
After a short silence, Jiang He paid.
Fang Ming handed over Solid Rock Skin Gu.
The transaction ended, but Jiang He did not leave immediately.
"Do you have vitality leaves?"
Fang Ming took out 7 vitality leaves and placed them on the table.
"65 primeval stones each."
Jiang He's face darkened.
"That is 5 stones above the current market price."
Fang Ming looked at him calmly.
"Then Senior Jiang He can buy from the market."
Jiang He became silent.
If the market had stock, he would not be sitting here.
Vitality leaves were in shortage. Injuries were increasing, missions were increasing, and every Gu Master who still had some sense was trying to prepare life-saving supplies. Fang Ming's price was ugly, but at least he had the goods.
Jiang He gritted his teeth and paid.
7 vitality leaves.
Another 455 primeval stones.
When he left, his expression was worse than when he had arrived.
Fang Ming had overcharged him on Solid Rock Skin Gu and vitality leaves alike. But Jiang He still bought both. He would soon be sent out again, and in the current situation, paying more primeval stones for a higher chance of survival was still worth it.
Fang Ming watched him leave and calmly stored the primeval stones.
Business became easier when people were afraid.
As December arrived, the situation outside the village worsened quickly.
The number of crippled wolves reached its peak. They appeared more frequently near the village surroundings, and the clan issued missions almost every day. Some Gu Masters returned injured. Some did not return at all.
There was even a hamlet near the mountain foot that was slaughtered by wolves.
The Gu Masters stationed there managed to retreat in time, but most of the mortals died.
For the clan higher-ups, the Gu Masters surviving was already fortunate. But for the village, grief still spread. From morning to night, crying could be heard in different places. The atmosphere became heavy and suppressed.
Fang Ming also used this period to rest.
His injuries from the wolf ambush had not been light, and avoiding missions for a while was natural. During this break, he copied Spring Bud Gu from the medical hall.
It was a Rank 2 healing Gu.
Compared with Rank 1 vitality leaves, its healing effect was far superior. Vitality leaves could stop bleeding and stabilize injuries, but Spring Bud Gu could truly treat serious wounds more effectively.
This was exactly what Fang Ming lacked.
After that, Fang Ming used his last Red Steel Relic Gu.
His accumulation was already enough. With the relic Gu's help, the breakthrough was guaranteed.
Fang Ming reached Rank 2 peak stage.
If this had happened during peaceful times, it would have caused another commotion. But now, Gu Yue Village was already drowning in other matters. Gu Masters worried about missions. Mortals worried about wolves. Elders were busy with defense arrangements and negotiations with the other 2 clans.
Fang Ming was a loner.
He had no friends to spread the news, and few people paid attention to his movements. A few sharp Gu Masters noticed the change, but either they did not care enough, or the people around them did not care enough to turn it into gossip.
Right now, the village preferred to talk about fear, death, wolf attacks, and heroic sacrifices.
Fang Ming's breakthrough was noticed, but it did not spread.
Under the pressure of the wolf tide, the negotiations between the 3 clans finally made progress.
A month later, at the end of winter, the three-clan alliance meeting was held.
Alliance Slope.
Snowflakes drifted slowly from the sky.
The slope had long been expanded into a wide gathering place. A huge rock building stood against the mountain wall, where the elders of the 3 clans sat and discussed matters. Below them, hundreds of Gu Masters gathered in separate formations.
Gu Yue clan.
Bai clan.
Xiong clan.
The 3 groups stood apart from each other, clear and distinct.
Most of the Gu Masters present were Rank 2. Rank 1 Gu Masters were mostly used for support, while Rank 3 Gu Masters were elders and leaders. The true mobile force of the wolf tide would be these Rank 2 Gu Masters standing below the stone platform.
Fang Ming stood in the Gu Yue clan formation.
His gaze moved across the other 2 clans with curiosity.
The Bai clan Gu Masters had pale complexions and a cold aura. The Xiong clan Gu Masters were tall and strong, their bodies carrying an obvious sense of physical power. Around him, senior Gu Masters quietly introduced notable figures from the other clans to their juniors.
Fang Ming listened, but his attention was not entirely on them.
His current copy target was already beside him.
Gu Yue Chi Shan.
Quick Dash Gu.
This Gu allowed an instant short dash of about 3 meters. Step on Wind Gu was useful for long movement and increasing general speed, but in close combat, an instant dash was more effective.
So Fang Ming stood beside Chi Shan.
Chi Shan noticed this and felt confused.
He and Fang Ming were not close. They barely exchanged greetings, and their last real conversation had been when he passed on the elders' order about Xiong Li and bought vitality leaves from him.
But after thinking for a moment, Chi Shan's gaze softened slightly.
Fang Ming was a complete loner.
He did not mix with his previous classmates. He did not greet villagers. He did not have a proper team. From Fang Ming's perspective, perhaps Chi Shan really was one of the few people in the village he had spoken to more than once.
Thinking of this, Chi Shan felt a little pity.
Then his expression changed.
He suddenly noticed something wrong.
"You, you..." Chi Shan pointed at Fang Ming, his voice filled with shock. "Fang Ming, when did you break through to Rank 2 peak stage?"
His voice was not loud.
But it was not quiet either.
Several nearby Gu Masters immediately turned their heads.
Fang Ming looked at Chi Shan with a proud expression.
"Senior Chi Shan, your eyes must be blind to not notice my greatness. It has been almost a month now."
The surrounding Gu Masters froze.
Rank 2 peak stage?
Almost a month?
A few people stared at Fang Ming in disbelief.
"How is that possible?"
"Wasn't he Rank 2 upper stage not long ago?"
"This speed is too unreasonable."
Some Gu Masters even forgot Fang Ming's usual bad temper and moved closer to ask questions.
Fang Ming answered them casually, his tone still arrogant and full of pride. In normal times, this attitude would have made people unhappy. But now, his cultivation was different.
Rank 2 peak stage.
At this age, with A-grade aptitude, he had a very high chance of becoming a clan elder in the future.
So what if his temper was bad?
If they could leave a good impression now, perhaps they would benefit later. Some Gu Masters who did not care about face began flattering him openly.
Fang Ming smiled faintly and pretended to enjoy it.
Soon, the small area around him became noisy.
Not far away, Gu Yue Qing Shu looked over with a puzzled expression.
That should be the area where the Shi faction and its allied Gu Masters were standing.
What happened there?
On the other side, the Mo faction also noticed the commotion. Several of them frowned, wondering why the Shi faction's people were making noise under the elders' watch.
The Bai and Xiong clan Gu Masters also looked over.
Some showed disdain.
Some quietly ridiculed.
In their eyes, Gu Yue Village was truly getting worse year by year. Now, even during the three-clan alliance meeting, their Gu Masters could not stand properly in formation without causing a disturbance.
Fang Ming did not care.
He stood among the noise, accepting the attention with a proud expression.
Beside him, Chi Shan still looked shocked.
And silently, Fang Ming continued copying Quick Dash Gu.