Chapter 521

Chapter 521: Immortal Han Chan

"What?" Fang Lie exclaimed in shock. "They have gu insects guarding the treasures? These scoundrels are being excessively cautious!"

The success of Fang Lie’s previous theft had relied on the absence of internal guards. As long as he avoided triggering restrictions, there were no issues.

But the Ten-Thousand Gu Sect’s treasure vault operated differently—filled with poison Gu insects that attacked anyone lacking proper sect tokens, regardless of whether restrictions were triggered. Even if Fang Lie infiltrated, he’d only end up as insect fodder.

Miao Xingfang shrugged helplessly. "That’s just how the Ten-Thousand Gu Sect operates. There’s nothing I can do."

"Fine, fine!" Fang Lie waved dismissively. "Leave for now. I’ll summon you tomorrow."

"As you command!" Miao Xingfang bowed and withdrew.

Once alone, Fang Lie contacted Old Bird. "Bird Bro, how do we breach defenses this tight? The Ten-Thousand Gu Sect’s vault is crawling with safeguards!"

"What’s there to fear?" Old Bird scoffed. "Thieves strike repeatedly, but defenders grow lax. Even the strictest security has flaws."

"True, but how do we exploit them?" Fang Lie pressed.

"Tokens," Old Bird answered lightly. "Acquire one granting Eighth Floor access, and the Gu insects won’t touch you."

Fang Lie grimaced. "Easier said than done! Only Fire Tribulation Immortals can enter the Eighth Floor. Their life-bound tokens track sect contributions. If the owner dies, the token becomes useless. We can’t reuse a dead man’s token!"

"Then capture a live one," Old Bird retorted. "The Ten-Thousand Gu Sect excels only at raising Gu. Their other cultivation arts are mediocre. Subdue a Fire Tribulation Immortal alive, and I’ll force his token to obey you."

"You make it sound simple!" Fang Lie groaned. "Killing one’s hard enough—capturing alive? Unless…" His eyes lit up. "Unless you help directly!"

"Not a chance," Old Bird snapped. "I’ve told you—until you formally become my master, consider this a test. No assistance."

"Some test!" Fang Lie muttered.

"Tests require difficulty," Old Bird chuckled before cutting communication.

Left to his devices, Fang Lie pondered. Open combat against a Fire Tribulation Immortal—especially a Ten-Thousand Gu Sect expert—was suicidal. Ambushes required perfect traps, yet his incomplete Energy Cycle Star Array couldn’t constrain such foes.

Then he recalled the small secret realm housing the awakened Wonderful Bodhi Tree. Its spatial restrictions could trap even powerful cultivators. The challenge? Luring the target inside voluntarily.

His thoughts settled on Immortal Han Chan—the Ten-Thousand Gu Sect’s Fire Tribulation expert governing the local town. Through Miao Xingfang’s all-night efforts, Fang Lie obtained detailed intelligence: Han Chan’s ice-element cultivation, concubines, routines, and desperate need for Millennia Ice Soul to advance his Fire Tribulation stage.

"Bird Bro, here’s the plan," Fang Lie later explained. "Use Han Chan’s concubines to bait him with Millennia Ice Soul, then drag him into my secret realm. The Wonderful Bodhi Tree and Energy Cycle Star Array will handle the rest."

"Not bad," Old Bird approved. "But the bait must be irresistible. The thirty-thousand-year Millennia Ice Soul I’ll provide from sect warehouses should suffice. It’ll self-destruct upon contact, freezing him momentarily for your trap—though this ruins a seventh-rank top-grade treasure."

"Worth the loss," Fang Lie decided. "Han Chan’s vault holds far greater value."

"Remember," Old Bird warned, "this comes from your sect contributions."

After preparations, Fang Lie instructed Miao Xingfang: "When we succeed, you’ll possess Han Chan’s body to plunder the vault. Your cut: twenty percent."

Trembling at the promise of Eighth-rank Treasure-level rewards, the Soul Split Sect cultivator vowed full cooperation. The stage was set—all hinged on flawlessly executing the ambush within the Small Thousand World.