Within the Supreme Immortal Orifice.
Little Eastern Sea.
It was a landscape of rivers and marshes.
But it wasn't as vast or profound as the real Eastern Sea outside; the highest water level was only about five or six zhang deep.
For the desolate beasts, most of the area was like a tiny mud pit.
This was because the Dao marks of the Water Dao within the Supreme Immortal Orifice were still few.
At this moment, in a corner of the Little Eastern Sea, two desolate beasts were locked in combat.
Awooo!
The desolate beast Finned Wolf let out a long howl and pounced. It opened its gaping maw, revealing sharp fangs. If that bite landed, even rocks would be crushed.
But its opponent, the desolate beast Flying Bear, flashed a cunning light in its eyes and abruptly retreated.
The Finned Wolf, having used too much force, had its attack easily dodged by the Flying Bear.
Then, the Flying Bear raised its thick paw high, aimed for the Finned Wolf's head, and slammed it down.
Bang! A loud boom echoed. The immense force smashed the Finned Wolf hard into the ground, leaving it dazed and disoriented, momentarily unable to rise.
However, Fang Yuan was not entirely satisfied with this strike.
"Using the Immortal Gu of Flying Bear's Strength indeed greatly boosted my power. But the Flying Bear transformation nearly went wrong. The body of this immortal zombie I'm temporarily borrowing is densely covered in Force Dao marks. Even with the Transformation Gu, I'm only forcing the change. The Force Dao marks are constantly resisting the Transformation Gu's influence."
A Gu Master of the Transformation Dao primarily possesses Transformation Dao marks.
These marks can, under the influence of Gu worms, transform step-by-step into various other types of Dao marks.
The Transformation Gu was the quintessential Gu worm of the Transformation Dao. With it, a Gu Immortal's form could undergo all sorts of changes: flowers, birds, fish, insects; grass, trees, mountains, water; the sun, moon, and stars—all could be transformed.
But this Gu only provided the form. It needed to be paired with other Gu worms to achieve changes in strength, speed, defense, and other aspects.
"The current Supreme Immortal Orifice is within my physical body. I can only use this Force Dao immortal zombie to practice various Transformation Dao methods. But the immortal zombie bears Force Dao marks, making it exhausting to deploy the Transformation Gu. The effect of the Flying Bear's Strength is actually better, as it's bolstered by the Force Dao marks."
Fang Yuan compared internally, growing more aware of the benefits of his true body.
The Dao marks of different Paths didn't interfere with or obstruct each other.
This advantage was truly immense!
The boundaries between different Paths were usually quite distinct and clear. Even dual-cultivation required prioritizing one over the other. But for Fang Yuan, the borders between Paths became blurred. He could practice them all.
"Looks like using the Force Dao immortal zombie, I can only become passably proficient in Transformation Dao methods. It won't let me truly understand my own progress or my limits!" Fang Yuan sighed inwardly while remotely controlling the Flying Bear to dodge nimbly.
It turned out the desolate beast Finned Wolf had gotten back up again, its ferocity ignited, and was attacking wildly.
But Fang Yuan possessed human intelligence. He advanced and retreated with clear strategy, his tactics distinct, controlling the Flying Bear with flowing grace. The Finned Wolf could barely brush against it.
Although Fang Yuan had once possessed the Beast Enslavement Immortal Gu and controlled this desolate beast, once the Earth Calamity passed, he had to return the Gu. Therefore, before returning it, he had released his control over the Finned Wolf and the Spine-stabbing Star Dragon Fish.
This had its benefits.
Without the influence of the Beast Enslavement Immortal Gu, the desolate beast Finned Wolf could display its true ferocity, serving as a qualified sparring partner.
Bang.
Another loud boom. The Finned Wolf had been knocked into the mud pit by the Flying Bear's great paw for the umpteenth time, sending mud and water splashing in all directions.
This time, the Finned Wolf whimpered, struggled unsteadily to its feet, glanced at the unharmed Flying Bear, and then, surprisingly, tucked its tail and fled.
Still expecting the Finned Wolf to attack, Fang Yuan was momentarily stunned. He couldn't help but think, "Was it because I flicked its little... thing too hard when I originally subdued it? Did that somehow diminish its ferocity?"
The Finned Wolf fled, and Fang Yuan suddenly felt a sense of anticlimax.
"But these days of sparring weren't without gain. At least it proves my attainment in the Transformation Dao has indeed reached the Grandmaster level."
Transformation Dao Grandmaster!
After Fang Yuan's Blood Dao Grandmaster realm, Force Dao Grandmaster realm, Wisdom Dao Grandmaster realm, and Star Dao Grandmaster realm, this was the fifth Path he had elevated to the Grandmaster level!
Five hundred years of experience from his previous life hadn't brought him much help with this. The reason his Transformation Dao could reach such a height was primarily due to the Crazy Barbarian True Meaning.
Heavenly Will wanted to eliminate Fang Yuan. It constantly schemed, raising the power of the Calamities to the absolute limit allowed by the Heavenly Dao.
Fang Yuan had weathered two Earth Calamities, but the power of these calamities had long surpassed the ordinary, being comparable to numerous Heavenly Tribulations. Consequently, they had drawn out many times the amount of Crazy Barbarian True Meaning.
Fortune hides within disaster, and disaster contains fortune.
The fundamental principle governing Calamities was that fortune and disaster were equal.
The heavier and greater the Calamity, the more dangerous and difficult it became for Fang Yuan, but the greater the rewards reaped after surviving!
Fang Yuan's Transformation Dao Grandmaster realm was achieved through three infusions of the Crazy Barbarian True Meaning. The first was during Hei Loulan's ten-extreme ascension to immortality. The latter two were from his own Earth Calamities, drawn out via the Immortal Calamity-Forging Orifices killer move. Thus, reaching the Grandmaster level was a matter of accumulated progress.
"Becoming a Transformation Dao Grandmaster, while cause for celebration, comes at a time when the overall situation is quite unfavorable." Fang Yuan was filled with concern.
The Calamities grew more severe with each one.