Before them stretched a deep blue curtain that occupied nearly the entirety of their field of vision.
The Azure Water Boundary Wall!
Between the Five Regions, each had its own boundary wall — like a membrane, guarding one domain.
The Azure Water Boundary Wall was the protective membrane of the Eastern Sea.
The Chaotic Flow Sea was already relatively close to the Azure Water Boundary Wall. Because of this, back when Fang Yuan had traveled from the Southern Border to the Northern Plains, he had been very near the Chaotic Flow Sea and encountered Liu Qingyu and the others.
Ying Wuxie and the four Gu Immortals had used the ancient battle formation Four Connected Directions to teleport directly here.
"Are we leaving again?" Hei Loulan sighed.
"Who was that person just now?" Tai Bai Yun Sheng asked.
"He's an enemy — a powerful one, a mortal enemy! Don't let his Sixth Transformation cultivation fool you; he actually possesses Eighth Transformation combat power." Ying Wuxie glanced at Tai Bai Yun Sheng and, in the end, selectively shared some intelligence.
Hearing this, Tai Bai Yun Sheng drew a sharp breath, crying out in disbelief: "Eighth Transformation combat power!?"
Hei Loulan also feigned shock: "No wonder we had to retreat immediately."
Shi Nu remained expressionless throughout.
Tai Bai Yun Sheng suddenly thought of something, and a look of sorrow surfaced on his face: "Sigh! Since that opponent has Eighth Transformation combat power, I'm afraid Liu Qingyu is doomed. What a pity."
"Dying in service to my Shadow Sect is an honor for him," Shi Nu scoffed coldly, his tone dripping with disdain.
"We should leave quickly. Since he was able to chase us here, we'd best put as much distance between us as possible. That Supreme Heavenly Eagle is a primordial ancient beast that soars through the Nine Heavens — it's very likely a creature born of that realm, and can move freely through the boundary walls of the Five Regions," Hei Loulan transmitted via voice transmission, warning Ying Wuxie.
Ying Wuxie gave her a deep look and transmitted back: "Relax. I've already thoroughly reviewed all historical intelligence records regarding the Northern Plains. Fang Yuan's Supreme Heavenly Eagle came from Hei Fan. And that Supreme Heavenly Eagle Hei Fan raised is a Northern Plains species — born and bred native. So even if it enters the boundary walls of the Five Regions, it will still be subject to the restrictions of the walls. The fact that we've reached the boundary wall means we're already safe."
"Is that so?" Hei Loulan was momentarily stunned, then the worry on her face visibly eased.
"Where are we headed this time? The Central Continent is out of the question — are we heading to the Southern Border to begin the rescue operation?" Hei Loulan asked.
Ying Wuxie smiled faintly. Rather than rushing into the Azure Water Boundary Wall, he circulated his immortal essence, and the aura of Gu Insects overflowed from his entire body.
He hovered in mid-air, slowly turning around to face the direction of the Chaotic Flow Sea.
Beneath his feet, the azure tide swelled and surged, crashing noisily.
The briny sea wind blew against the faces of the four Gu Immortals.
"Wait," Ying Wuxie said a single word, serving as his answer to Hei Loulan's question.
"Wait for what?" Tai Bai Yun Sheng asked, confused.
"Wait for that enemy to make a move," Ying Wuxie replied.
The three Gu Immortals exchanged bewildered glances, none of them understanding.
They had just retreated to get away — so why were they now waiting for a powerful enemy? That man possessed Eighth Transformation combat power! What were they waiting for? Waiting for him to come and kill them?
Hei Loulan's expression suddenly shifted: "I understand!"
"Understand what?" Tai Bai Yun Sheng hurriedly asked — he was thoroughly confused.
Shi Nu remained expressionless, but a glint of doubt showed in his eyes.
Hei Loulan smiled: "Don't you find it strange? How did he know our whereabouts? And why was his tracking so precise when he chased us down?"
This time, even Shi Nu's expression changed subtly.
Tai Bai Yun Sheng's voice dropped low: "Hei Loulan. You're saying there's a traitor among us? That's impossible — how could the four of us… Wait, could it be that Liu Qingyu was the traitor? But he signed a contract to join! Are you saying there are loopholes in the contract?"
"The possibility of a traitor is extremely slim," Ying Wuxie shook his head and took over the conversation.
He glanced at Tai Bai Yun Sheng.
Even with Tai Bai Yun Sheng — who was kept completely in the dark — Ying Wuxie had made him sign a contract, ensuring he wouldn't become a weak link on their side.
"The most likely explanation is that the other party possesses some form of tracking method capable of locating our position," Ying Wuxie said slowly.
"But we've been holed up in our camp these past few days, barely going out at all," Tai Bai Yun Sheng furrowed his brow.
Hei Loulan let out a soft laugh: "The methods of Gu Immortals are as vast as the ocean — bizarre and unfathomable. How much could we possibly know?"
"That's true enough," Tai Bai Yun Sheng nodded.
Hei Loulan continued: "If we don't find a countermeasure, no matter where we go, that enemy will always track us down. The only difference is how quickly he finds us."
"That's why the Lord paused his steps and didn't enter the boundary wall. He's waiting for the opponent to make a move — specifically, to activate a tracking killer move. I see!" Shi Nu suddenly realized.
In truth, much of the intelligence was known only to Ying Wuxie.
At this moment, inside Ying Wuxie's mind, thoughts surged one after another.
Although he was a strength-path Immortal Zombie with sluggish thinking, he had various methods to compensate for this shortcoming.
Ying Wuxie was thinking rapidly!
"What method did Fang Yuan use to track my location?"
"My arrival in the Eastern Sea was completely secret. How could the intelligence have leaked? Could he have tracked me from the Northern Plains, across two boundary walls?"
"That can't be! Even if it were a Heavenly Court Gu Immortal, I have Gu formations protecting me, obscuring the Heavenly Secrets — they wouldn't be able to calculate a thing."
"So even if Hei Fan's true inheritance is extraordinary, it probably couldn't accomplish this either."
The Will of Heaven!
A single answer suddenly surfaced in Ying Wuxie's mind.
"If I was able to learn intelligence about Fang Yuan through the Will of Heaven's intricate manipulations and subtle guidance — could the same thing be happening on Fang Yuan's end?"
The probability was quite high.
But Ying Wuxie wasn't satisfied.
"If the person in this situation right now, in this position, weren't me but Fang Yuan — what would he think? How would he handle it?"
"He would certainly consider the absolute worst-case scenario."