Summer passed.
By the time autumn arrived, Fang Ming's business had already taken shape.
At first, it looked simple.
He bought vitality leaves from different Gu Masters, then resold them to those who needed them more urgently. The current market price for a vitality leaf was around 64 primeval stones. Fang Ming usually bought them at 62 and sold them at 65.
The profit looked small.
Only 3 primeval stones per leaf.
For many Gu Masters, this was not worth the trouble. They did not understand why Fang Ming, a Rank 2 upper stage Gu Master, would bother with such a slow and troublesome business.
But Fang Ming did not care what they thought.
The small profit was only the surface.
The real reason was cover.
He had copied Nine Leaf Vitality Grass again.
Every day, his own Nine Leaf Vitality Grass produced around 9 vitality leaves. If Fang Ming sold those leaves directly, the problem would be obvious. Where did they come from? Why did he suddenly have a stable supply? Who gave him access to Nine Leaf Vitality Grass?
Those questions were troublesome.
So he created an answer before anyone could ask.
He bought vitality leaves from others.
He sold vitality leaves to others.
Between those 2 things, no one could easily calculate how many leaves he had bought and how many he had sold. The buyers were different. The sellers were different. The times were different. A few leaves entered his hands here, a few leaves left his hands there.
Everything looked ordinary.
Demand for vitality leaves was already higher than supply, and the price increased every so often. Many people were willing to buy from Fang Ming at 65 rather than wait until next week, when the market price might rise again and reach the same point.
In this way, Fang Ming's slightly higher price did not look suspicious.
It looked convenient.
As autumn deepened, Fang Ming expanded the business further.
Vitality leaves were only one part.
If a Gu Master wanted to sell a Gu but did not know who would be interested, Fang Ming could help introduce buyers. If the transaction succeeded, he took a cut, usually between 2% and 5% of the sale price.
This business was not easy.
Many Gu Masters wanted high prices. Many buyers wanted cheap goods. Some only came to ask and never bought. Some changed their minds halfway. Some tried to use Fang Ming's introduction to contact the buyer privately and avoid paying his cut.
Over nearly 3 months, Fang Ming only helped sell 5 Gu for other Gu Masters.
The profit was small.
But once again, profit was not the main purpose.
The business gave Fang Ming another layer of cover.
He had 2 Rank 2 strength Gu that were no longer useful to him.
Silver Wolf King Strength Gu.
Stone Monkey King Strength Gu.
Their effects had already been absorbed. Keeping them meant feeding them, while destroying them would also be wasteful.
The first chance came through Gu Yue Qing Shu.
Qing Shu had come to buy vitality leaves on behalf of his team.
Fang Ming handed over the leaves and accepted the primeval stones. The transaction was finished, but Fang Ming did not immediately send him away.
"Brother Qing Shu, would you be interested in looking at another item?"
Qing Shu paused slightly.
He had already obtained the vitality leaves he came for, so his mood was calm. Hearing Fang Ming's words, he did not refuse.
"What item?"
Fang Ming took out a Gu container and placed it on the table.
Qing Shu looked at it, but he did not recognize the Gu inside at a glance. This was normal. Many Gu worms were difficult to identify from appearance alone unless one had seen them before or knew their specific traits.
Fang Ming introduced it naturally.
"This is a Rank 2 Silver Wolf King Strength Gu. After use, it can permanently strengthen the Gu Master's body."
Qing Shu's gaze changed slightly.
Fang Ming continued, "It is especially suitable for your team. A single person buying it alone would naturally feel pressure, but a team can gather funds together and take turns using it. With the wolf tide approaching, most missions in the mission hall will be related to hunting wolves. For your team, this Gu can bring 2 benefits at once."
Qing Shu listened quietly.
Fang Ming pointed at the Gu container.
"First, you complete wolf-hunting missions and gain mission rewards. Second, the wolf corpses from those missions can be used to feed Silver Wolf King Strength Gu and let your team members strengthen themselves. The same hunt brings both contribution and growth."
Qing Shu picked up the container and examined it more carefully.
Fang Ming did not stop.
"Silver Wolf King Strength Gu is also different from ordinary brute-force strength Gu. It does not simply give heavy force like boar strength. Its value lies in balance and coordination. It improves the waist, back, explosive movement, body turning, dodging, pouncing, and reaction in close combat. For Gu Masters who fight together in a team, this kind of improvement is very practical."
Qing Shu's interest became obvious.
"How much?"
"2,820 primeval stones."
This was only 20 primeval stones more than the price Fang Ming had paid at the caravan. Of course, Fang Ming did not say that this Gu belonged to him. In his current business, he was only introducing goods on behalf of sellers.
Qing Shu thought for only a short while before standing.
"Wait here. I will gather funds with my team."
Fang Ming nodded.
Qing Shu left quickly.
Not long after, he returned with his team members. This time, they brought a large amount of primeval stones. A Rank 2 strength Gu was not cheap, but this Gu was useful to Qing Shu's team, especially with Fang Zheng being raised within that team.
The transaction was completed smoothly.
Fang Ming did not make much profit from it.
Only 20 primeval stones.
But that was enough.
Silver Wolf King Strength Gu had been turned back into money, the feeding burden was gone, and to outsiders, it looked like another successful deal from Fang Ming's growing middleman business.
The second chance came from Gu Yue Chi Shan.
Chi Shan did not come to buy vitality leaves at first.
He came because of Xiong Li.
The Xiong clan had sent people to Gu Yue Village to discuss cooperation, and Xiong Li had also shown interest in challenging Fang Ming.
Chi Shan's expression was serious.
"Fang Ming, the elders and clan leader have given instructions. You are not to fight Xiong Li. Do not be provoked by him."
Fang Ming nodded.
"I understand."
Chi Shan looked at him carefully.
Fang Ming's expression was calm. Too calm.
"I have long passed the stage where I am easily provoked," Fang Ming said. "I am now a mature Gu Master with a flourishing business. Why would I lower myself to fight someone beneath me?"
Chi Shan's face stiffened.
For some reason, he felt even less reassured.
"Fang Ming, this is an order from the elders and the clan leader."
"I heard you the first time."
Chi Shan frowned, but before he could continue, Fang Ming changed the subject.
"Since Senior Chi Shan is already here, do you need vitality leaves?"
Chi Shan looked at him.
Fang Ming's tone was natural, as if they had not just been discussing a possible conflict between clans.
After a brief silence, Chi Shan bought some vitality leaves.
Fang Ming accepted the stones, then placed another Gu container in front of him.
"Senior Chi Shan, would you also be interested in looking at a Rank 2 strength Gu?"
Chi Shan's gaze shifted to the Gu container.
"What strength Gu?"
"Stone Monkey King Strength Gu."
Fang Ming opened the container slightly and introduced it.
"This Gu strengthens mainly the arms. Grip, pulling force, punching force, weapon handling, and grappling. These are the most important muscles in a Gu Master's body, and this Gu precisely strengthens these parts. For a Strength Gu Master like Senior Chi Shan, this Gu is exactly what you are looking for. Search no further, as you won't find anything more suitable for you than this Gu."
Chi Shan immediately became interested.
For him, strength-path Gu were always worth attention.
"How much?"
"2,850 primeval stones."
Chi Shan frowned slightly.
The price was not low.
But Rank 2 strength Gu were not common goods. Even if one had primeval stones, it was not certain that one could encounter a suitable Gu at the right time.
Chi Shan bargained.
Fang Ming did not rush. The Gu was already useless to him, but he did not show eagerness. After several rounds, the price was lowered to 2,820 primeval stones.
In the end, Chi Shan paid and seemed happy with the deal.
Fang Ming handed over the Gu.
He did not know whether Stone Monkey King Strength Gu should have sold for more than Silver Wolf King Strength Gu. He did not care too much either.
The important thing was simple.
Another burden had been removed.
More primeval stones had entered his hands.
Fang Ming watched Chi Shan leave, then looked at the remaining vitality leaves on the table.
Business was indeed troublesome.
It had taken quite some time from his cultivation schedule, but it was not without gains. Aside from offloading 2 Rank 2 Gu burdens and creating a steady income source, it also gave Fang Ming the opportunity to sit and discuss business with many outstanding Gu Masters.
Many of them were team leaders.
This allowed him to check their Gu and consider future copy targets.
Unfortunately, the Gu he wanted most right now had not come to his door.
Mo Yan's Echo Vibration Gu.
It was a top-notch investigation Gu, and it was the reason Mo Yan could complete a wolf den scouting mission safely on her own. But no opportunity appeared for Fang Ming to copy it. Mo Yan usually went from the mission hall directly back to her faction compound, and that was not a place Fang Ming could casually approach.
If he forced the matter, he might be dragged back into elder factional infighting.
That was not worth it for a single Rank 2 Gu.
Still, the business had brought him other gains.
From Gu Yue Qing Shu, Fang Ming noticed Vine Entanglement Gu.
It was a one-time-use Gu that could be thrown at an enemy, creating a large number of vines to bind them and stop them from moving or leaving the area. In Qing Shu's hands, it could become a death trap when combined with his other wood-path Gu.
But Fang Ming did not need Qing Shu's whole arsenal.
For him, the entanglement alone was enough.
It was a life-saving trump card.
Chi Shan also had several Gu that interested Fang Ming.
The first one Fang Ming copied from him was Burning Steam Gu. It created a burning layer of steam above the skin, forming an additional defensive barrier.
After that, Fang Ming copied Burning Stone Skin Gu in November.
This Gu replaced Solid Rock Skin Gu as Fang Ming's main defensive skin Gu. Solid Rock Skin Gu was still in his possession for now, but once a suitable opportunity appeared, Fang Ming planned to sell it.
His current defense now had 2 layers.
The first layer was Burning Stone Skin Gu.
The second layer was Burning Steam Gu.
Burning Stone Skin Gu worked well with Burning Steam Gu because it could absorb part of the heat and strengthen the burning steam layer's defensive effect.
Chi Shan also had Quick Dash Gu.
It allowed an instant short dash of about 3 meters, making it extremely effective in close combat. Fang Ming's Step on Wind Gu increased his overall speed and was useful in long chases, but it did not give him the same sharp, instant movement in battle.
Quick Dash Gu was worth remembering.
But that would be for another time.
Early winter was almost here, and it was time for Fang Ming to once again attempt his breakthrough to Rank 2 peak stage.