Bodies stiffened, and everyone held their breath.
All were waiting for the next moment.
The temperature had risen to an unbearable level, as if the air itself had begun to burn.
At the heart of this inferno—
Jian Long held his breath.
At this moment… he was gambling with his life.
Everything hung on a single question:
Could he withstand the incoming attack… or not?
Then—
Fang Gong moved.
The fireball was unleashed.
A blinding light exploded in the area, stealing everyone's sight for a moment—
followed by waves of pained screams from all directions.
A few seconds passed…
before the light gradually faded.
Several Gu Masters had fallen.
Their bodies were on fire, writhing in agony, trying to extinguish the flames consuming them.
Despite being Rank two…
and despite the attack not being directed at them—
their defensive Gu were not enough to withstand the power of a Rank three strike.
But what shocked everyone was that Jian Long—
was still standing in the midst of the flames.
The sphere of lightning surrounding him remained intact.
As if the attack had not touched him at all.
Everyone's eyes widened, their faces frozen.
At the forefront was Fang Leng, who opened his mouth in disbelief:
"How…?"
"How did he survive a Rank three Gu attack?!"
Jian Long let out a breath of relief.
His plan had succeeded…
That simple, insane plan.
Over the past months, and with his growing experience in the world of Gu—especially during the short time he had spent in the caravan—he had come to understand that the power of the Lightning Moon Gu he used was not normal for a Rank one Gu worm.
It was closer to the power of Rank two.
And with that strange feeling of attraction toward lightning-path Gu worms, he began to suspect.
To suspect that, for some reason, he could raise the power of any lightning-path Gu by one rank.
If this was true, then by using Rank two Gu worms, he would be able to unleash the power of Rank three.
And so—
he took the gamble.
The plan, on the surface, was simple:
If the caravan's system was ruled by the strong, then he would climb to the top.
Of course, this plan was extremely reckless and insane. This decision had not been fully thought through—it was born from a moment of anger and despair during his confrontation with Fang Leng.
After all, who could guarantee that what happened with the Lightning Moon Gu would repeat with other lightning-path Gu worms?
What if it was just an exception? What if it failed?
In that case—
he would have died under Fang Gong's attack.
Jian Long bowed respectfully, while the sphere of lightning around him remained intact.
"I still hope you will reconsider your judgment, Lord Fang Gong."
On the other side—
Fang Gong stood in place, lost in thought.
How did he manage to block my attack?
Does he possess a Gu worm that can raise the power of other Gu by one rank?
Or is he hiding his true cultivation level… and is actually Rank three?
But if that were the case… wasn't it said he only used Rank two Gu?
Or are those fools unable to even distinguish between Rank two and Rank three?
His expression tightened slightly.
Damn it… what's the point of thinking about this now?
He shook his head lightly, casting those thoughts aside.
What matters now… is that he possesses Rank three power.
Or at least—he can display it.
His eyes narrowed.
But… is this his true strength?
Or just a trick?
Can he repeat it… or is it a one-time move?
He hesitated for a moment.
Should I test him? Attack again?
Then his thoughts abruptly halted—
No… what if it's not a trick?
What if he truly has Rank three power?
Can I win?
The answer came immediately—
Yes.
With absolute confidence.
With the pride of a Rank three Gu Master.
But—
Will I come out unscathed?
And here, everything changed.
Getting injured in itself was not a problem—
if the fight was against someone of equal rank.
But Jian Long…
had presented himself as a Rank two Gu Master.
And the gap between the two ranks—
was vast.
If he were injured against someone of equal level, it would be normal.
But if he were injured by someone beneath him…
that was an entirely different matter.
Some might say Jian Long was strong—
but the majority…
would see him as weak.
And in a world where value was measured by strength—
this was a disaster.
If others began to see him as weak—
other factions within the caravan might start targeting his group.
And then—
the losses would not be small.
Fang Gong was not just a fighter.
He led a trade worth hundreds of thousands of primeval stones—
for himself… and his clan.
So would he risk all of that—
for the sake of avenging Fang Leng?
That person…
whom he could barely tolerate?
The answer was clear.
Of course not.
Especially since Jian Long had shown respect in front of everyone and requested a fair resolution—keeping Fang Gong in a position of power, even if he had to concede slightly.
"Fine… let this be a warning to you."
Fang Gong said in a cold tone:
"Do not attack any of my subordinates again… or I will kill you. Do you understand?"
"Of course, my lord."
Jian Long replied immediately, without hesitation.
In an instant—
Fang Gong regained his usual imposing demeanor, the authoritative dominance befitting a Rank three Gu Master.
As if everything that had just happened—
was nothing more than a lesson… or a warning.
"After considering your request… and after my anger has settled, I see that my previous judgment was excessive."
He paused briefly, then continued:
"Of course, I do not excuse your actions. But it is clear that Fang Leng was also at fault—he must have insulted you, which provoked you."
His eyes narrowed slightly as he concluded:
"Therefore, I consider you even."
"As long as you pay the price of the Gu worms… the matter is settled."
Jian Long bowed once more and said with praise:
"Lord Fang Gong is merciful and just… truly, a symbol of the righteous path."
Fang Gong's expression relaxed slightly.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Such words—
were always welcome.
And when the others saw this—
they quickly joined in the praise:
"Lord Fang Gong is just and merciful!"
"Truly, a wise leader!"
It was not spontaneous.
Everyone understood what had just happened.
The matter… was over.
But—
the fact that Jian Long had walked away unharmed after everything he had done—
could give rise to uncomfortable rumors.
And rumors like these…
could turn against those who spread them.
In a world like this—
to be accused of tarnishing Fang Gong's reputation…
meant making a powerful enemy.
And so—
they hurried to clear themselves.
By polishing the image.
By raising their voices in praise—
before their silence could be misunderstood.