Fang Yuan was lounging in the Dollhouse, expecting someone. "Ah, Lady Qing Ding Bing! It's good to see that you could join us today."
"Ling Ding Ching, get it right this time," she walked in, corrected him.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I just have difficulty remembering names when they're completely stupid," Fang Yuan said, sighing. Bai Ning Bing snorted coldly. "Anyway, what did you want to talk about today? It's regarding the Bai Clan's spirit spring, isn't it?" Fang Yuan asked.
Bai Ning Bing's eyebrows rose. 'How did... how did Fang Yuan know about that?' She furrowed her brows before she came upon the realization. "Oh, so the Gu Clan's spirit spring is also having issues, is that it? That's how you assumed that we were as well? I had come to you thinking you might have a solution but this is how it is... ahahaha.... looks like you're in the same boat as we are!"
"Actually, on the contrary, I think that the Gu Yue Clan will be fine for a while," Fang Yuan said nonchalantly.
When Bai Ning Bing had detonated, the ice had gone deep inside the mountain, also affecting the spirit springs. Many people had hoped that they would recover.
However, Fang Yuan could see the signs of definitive decline with the Gu Village's spirit spring already. It had been a bit more equivocal earlier but now the writing was clear on the wall - their spirit spring ws done for. The other elders were a bit more hopeful, but they lacked Fang Yuan's 500 years of experience. He could tell when a spirit spring was beginning to die out.
Moreover, he had concrete evidence that the spirit spring was dying out. He had gone to check on the Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus a few times and found that it was losing petals at a rapid rate. Right now, it only had seven when it had eight and a half back when he had initially seen it.
It was clear what was happening. The Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus would normally absorb the energy from a spirit spring and then use it to refine itself. In this case, however, because the spirit spring was dying, it was doing the reverse, unrefining itself and sending its energy into the spirit spring. That meant that Gu Village's spirit spring would actually last for longer than either the Bai Clan or the Zhang Clan. However, it would eventually die out nonetheless. Fang Yuan had hoped to move it before such a thing happened, but now, it was clear that he would just have to give up on the Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus.
If the Flower Wine Monk could see this situation - that the gu worm that he had planted hoping someone would wipe out the Gu Yue clan was instead sustaining them, he would no doubt cough up a mouthful of blood in anger.
Bai Ning Bing's expression changed. "Regardless, how can you be so calm hearing about that? Aren't you supposed to be a righteous path sect leader? Shouldn't you be worried about your clan's future?" She sneered, knowing his true nature. "What on Earth are you planning to do about it, or are you just planning to abandon your clan entirely?"
Bai Ning Bing felt very little affection towards her clan, but she couldn't deny that it was her clan. If she had truly felt no attachments to it, she wouldn't have felt so ashamed and changed her name while assuming the role of external elder. Not to mention, with most of the annoying elders gone from the Bai Clan, there was actually hope of them accomplishing something useful under her leadership.
As for Fang Yuan, Bai Ning Bing understood him clearly - he would easily abandon the clan if it suited his interests. Was that what he wanted to do? To suck the clan dry of all of its resources before bouncing?
"Well, I suppose it can't be helped then," Fang Yuan said, stretching lazily. "Why don't you tell the Bai Clan that they should submit towards the Gu Yue Clan and I'll tell you a solution to this problem."
Bai Ning Bing frowned. A solution to this problem? The only solution could possibly be that they would need to find another spirit spring. "I already know the solution. We need to find another spirit spring. What kind of offer is that?"
"Oh, but do you know the location of a spirit spring like I do?"
Bai Ning Bing's eyes widened.
"You're telling me you know the location of a spirit spring?"
"Yes, a new, fresh spirit spring which is juicy and ripe for the taking," Fang Yuan said.
Spirit springs could die out, but they would also form once again. Heaven was balanced in that way. When one was destroyed, another one would be created. Of course, that place where it would be created could be some place hundreds of li away from where they currently were. So this was little reassurance to any clan whose own spirit spring was dying out.
Bai Ning Bing crossed her arms. "And you want the Bai Clan to submit in exchange for this information?"
"I only know the location of one spirit spring," Fang Yuan said, lying. "How on earth can three clans stay at a place where there is only one? It's better that we all combine together and become one giant, big, happy family. Wouldn't that be for the best?"
Bai Ning Bing snorted once again. She was sure that Fang Yuan had his own reasons for wanting such. She just couldn't figure them out.
"But that does remind me," Fang Yuan said. "Whatever your decision is, do tell me quickly because we might need to move soon. After all, an unclaimed spirit spring is like a primeval stone that you find lying on the road. If you don't pick it up soon, someone else is going to take it, aren't they?"
Fang Yuan was speaking about the spirit spring that would soon be found by the Bei Clan some distance away. There was also an inheritance there, which he wanted to take. He had never gotten around to it though and had even considered abandoning it at one point.
While the Hundred Li Earth Wolf Spider was very good for navigating, it was still limited by the terrain, and it was only a Rank 4 Gu, meaning that it could not suit his needs.
"If you agree to this, we can go ahead and take the White Form Immortal Snake to the place where I know there is a spring," Fang Yuan said.
The White Form Immortal Snake, on the other hand, was a true Rank 5 Gu.
"I can't use it though?" Bai Ning Bing said, frowning. She might have been able to use it back when she still had the full force of her Northern Dark Ice Soul physique, but right now was a completely different story.
"Oh, it's no matter, just lend it out to me," Fang Yuan said lazily.
"Why not just take the Dollhouse?" Bai Ning Bing asked. It could fly very well on its own.
"Too conspicuous," Fang Yuan said. "We would be inviting danger upon ourselves."
Bai Ning Bing sighed. Fang Yuan did have a point. If she had been able to deduce that such a structure could only be used by an immortal, it was obvious that other people could as well, and that would attract a lot of unwanted attention.
"So be it then. I'll go see if I can convince them."