RI: The One and Only Great Love (Old Version)

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Three Days Later

Fang Yuan arrived at the Hei Alliance camp. He took three days, as a normal mortal Gu master would take to come here.

Over the past days, he had carefully left traces of himself that appeared natural. If Dong Fang Yu Liang decided to investigate him, he would find nothing suspicious—just the traces of a lone Gu Master traveling. Fang Yuan didn't make it look flawless; but still, it seemed like the way of someone who valued isolation and quiet.

Tai Bai Yun Sheng, standing near the main tent, was the first to notice. His face lit up with both relief and curiosity. He hurried over to greet Fang Yuan.

"Brother, you're finally back! I was starting to worry," Tai Bai said warmly, his concern genuine.

Fang Yuan gave Tai Bai's shoulder a friendly pat. "Ah, Brother Tai Bai, my apologies for the delay. I had some matters to take care of along the way."

Tai Bai nodded, though his panic was clear. "Did you get what I sent?"

Fang Yuan chuckled lightly. "No need to worry, Brother. But I do need to know exactly what happened. I want the details of how everything went that way."

Tai Bai's expression grew serious. He was silent for a moment before taking out a Gu and handing it to Fang Yuan. "Brother, I've stored all the information in this Gu. I've been holding onto it, waiting for you."

Fang Yuan took the Gu and quickly absorbed its contents.

His mind raced as the pieces of information fell into place. Combining the new information with his knowledge of the plot and the changes he had made, he thought to himself, "So, this situation is the result of my small move!"

A flicker of surprise crossed Fang Yuan's eyes. Such a small move, yet it had altered the entire fate of the Imperial Court. "So this's the Ink effect?! No wonder any otherworldly demon is hated by Heaven's Will."

"By simply giving Dong Fang Yu Liang, the leader of the Dong Fang tribe, a Gu to heal his sister, I set this chain of events in motion," he mused. Fang Yuan was thinking of the move he made to speed up the victory of the Hei Tribe.

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Dong Fang Yu Liang.

After curing his sister with the Gu, Dong Fang Yu Liang's courage and ambition grew. At first, his main aim was to rescue his young sister. But achieving that showed him what was possible for the future.

His goals expanded—he now dreamed of becoming the Lord of the Imperial Court, entering the Blessed Land, strengthening his tribe, and increasing his own chances of immortality.

As a Wisdom Path Gu Master, Yu Liang devised a daring yet calculated plan to achieve his goals. Though risky, it was the safest path he could deduce.

His plan began with a bold move: he sent an invitation for a team battle to decide the outcome between the Hei Tribe and Dong Fang Tribe. However, he wasn't foolish enough to leave it in the hands of someone as unpredictable and warlike as Hei Lou Lan. Instead, he used the help of a Gu Immortal from his tribe to formalize the battle as an agreement between the two Tribes.

In this team battle, Yu Liang refused to bring an army, making it appear as if he was confident in his tribe's strength. Step by step, he cornered Hei Lou Lan into accepting the fight.

The Hei Tribe had no choice but to agree. As a Righteous Path tribe, their reputation was at stake. Refusing a fair fight requested by a Wisdom Path master would damage their honor. Moreover, they assumed Dong Fang Yu Liang was foolish to challenge them, believing they were stronger enough to win.

Hei Lou Lan, however, was no fool. She agreed to the battle but added a condition. If the Dong Fang tribe lost, they would have to join the Hei Alliance. Mockingly, she added that the same would apply to the Hei tribe if they lost.

Hei Lou Lan was sharp and cunning, willing to do whatever it took to achieve her goals. She had no intention of losing her goal. By accepting the challenge and setting these terms, she ensured that no matter the outcome, she would enter the Imperial Court Blessed Land, her main aim.

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"I see..." Fang Yuan said, thinking it all through. After a moment, a small smile appeared on his face. "This is even better than I expected."

"Better? Brother, I don't get it. How are we supposed to get into the Imperial Court Blessed Land now?" Tai Bai Yun Sheng asked, looking genuinely puzzled.

Fang Yuan let out a light laugh. "Think about it, Tai Bai. Hei Lou Lan is already set to enter. As the Hei Tribe's leader already got a guaranteed ticket—for his dear Hei Alliance."

"And remember, we've got a deal with the Hei Tribe—they take us in as part of the agreement for helping them out."

Tai Bai blinked, slowly putting the pieces together. "So... we just have to wait?"

"Exactly," Fang Yuan replied, his voice steady and confident. "The lord of the Imperial Court has already been decided. There's nothing else we need to do but sit tight."

Tai Bai's face lit up as relief replaced his earlier worry. He nodded, finally relaxing.

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Finally, that Day Arrived

The long-awaited day to enter the Imperial Court Blessed Land had come.

Dong Fang Yu Liang led the remaining army to the entrance.

As they approached, all eyes turned to Dong Fang Yu Liang. He held the key to open the Imperial Court Blessed Land.

He stood tall, lifting the item in his hand high into the air. A soft golden glow began to shimmer around him, faint at first but quickly growing brighter.

The light swirled and expanded, forming a radiant ring that seemed alive with energy. Moments later, the golden ring transformed into a majestic city gate.

The gate stood imposing, its surface adorned with intricate silvery flower patterns. Large copper buttons, each the size of a fist, dotted its structure, adding to its awe-inspiring appearance.

Boom!

A deep, resonating sound echoed as an unseen force pushed the colossal doors open.

Instantly, a rich scent of sandalwood filled the air, blending with the icy winds of the Northern Plains. Above, the swirling snowflakes abruptly halted, suspended as if caught in time.

Guided by an unseen power, the frozen snowflakes began to gather, condensing into a solid, gleaming ice staircase.

The staircase stretched from the towering gate all the way to the ground, its surface sparkling like crystal under the pale sunlight.

"Imperial Court Blessed Land!" Hei Lou Lan's voice trembled with excitement, unable to hide her eagerness.

Dong Fang Yu Liang wasted no time. He moved swiftly, taking three steps at a time as he climbed the ice staircase, becoming the first to enter the Imperial Court Blessed Land.

From behind, Fang Yuan observed in silence, his gaze steady and calculating. "The Imperial Court Blessed Land, home of the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building…" He ascended calmly, each step deliberate and unhurried.

The Imperial Court Blessed Land was Northern Plains' greatest sanctuary, opening once every ten years as a reward to the Imperial Court Lord. Its most notable rule was absolute: no Gu Immortals were allowed to enter.

Fang Yuan's lips curled into a subtle smile as he thought, "I've planned for this moment to the very end, calculating every detail."

The world of Gu Immortals had a simple way of identifying their kind—Dao marks. These marks, unique and unmistakable, made it impossible to hide an immortal's identity.

But Fang Yuan had planned for this. The mechanisms of the Blessed Land were absolute, but his modified Familiar Face killer move, perfected with the help of the A.I. Chip, was even more advanced. It didn't just hide Dao marks; it erased their influence entirely from the outside world by using the Dark Path.

"Finally, I'm here." Fang Yuan murmured confidently as he stepped forward, disappearing through the gates.

Tai Bai Yun Sheng and the other experts followed soon after, their expressions a mix of anticipation and awe.

An hour later, the entire army had entered the Imperial Court Blessed Land. The ice staircase disintegrated, crumbling into fine snow as the massive red gate slowly shut itself.

The golden ring of light shrank into a single bright dot before vanishing completely.

"They've all made it inside without issue," murmured one of the Gu Immortals watching from a hidden vantage point. Their expressions were a mix of helplessness and nostalgia.

Their role was simple: to ensure no outsider used this opportunity to infiltrate. Now that the gate was sealed, they quietly retreated, their task complete.

And just like that, the journey of Fang Yuan into the Imperial Court Blessed Land had begun.

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