Outside of Chenglong Mound, in the Northern Plains.
Chu Clan's Strength Path Gu Immortal continued: "This Gu Immortal from the Bai Zu Family... the intelligence is very hard to come by. These people all live inside Bai Zu Tian Jun's grotto-heaven and rarely venture out into the wider Northern Plains. Hm?"
It turned out that before he could finish speaking, Fang Yuan had already flown out.
"Hurry, come back!"
"We haven't even finished drawing up our battle plan!"
"You can't be reckless!"
"Even though there are two of us and only one of them, they have the terrain advantage! Chenglong Mound is outfitted with a complete Gu formation. As long as they hold their ground defensively for even a moment, the Bai Zu Family will have an endless stream of powerful reinforcements coming!"
The Chu Clan Gu Immortal hastily sent a voice transmission, anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
Fang Yuan ignored him, flying up into midair and shouting directly: "Someone from the Bai Zu Family, come out! This Chenglong Mound belongs to my Chu Clan now!"
"Chu Clan? Never heard of it! How dare you run wild on our Bai Zu Family's turf!" A young Gu Immortal appeared atop Chenglong Mound, his face full of shock and rage.
"It's over!" The Chu Clan Gu Immortal clutched his head, his face ashen with despair. "Why did Master send me such an assistant? Too reckless—far too reckless!"
"Such a good situation we had… sigh!" He shook his head ceaselessly.
Now there was only the option of a forced assault.
The Chu Clan Gu Immortal was about to reveal himself when Fang Yuan had already struck without hesitation.
Boom!
A Grand Strength Hand Seal flew out, pressing down like a small mountain, crushing the air apart and unleashing earth-shaking, heaven-defying momentum.
Both the Chu Clan Gu Immortal and the Bai Zu Family Gu Immortal were left staring, dumbstruck and frozen in place by the sheer power of this strike.
The Bai Zu Gu Immortal was the first to recover. He let out a strange cry: "Seventh Transformation combat power! You— you—you—this Senior, actually playing the pig to eat the tiger! How shameless!"
As he spoke, he frantically activated Chenglong Mound's defensive Gu formation.
The formation roared to life, and layers of resplendent light rose from Chenglong Mound, firmly shrouding the entire mound.
Fang Yuan snorted coldly. His Grand Strength Hand Seal pressed forward regardless, slamming down with tremendous force.
Bang, bang, bang…
The Grand Strength Hand Seal was immensely powerful. Wherever it went, it tore through the Gu formation like rotting straw.
The defensive Gu formation of Chenglong Mound couldn't hold out for even five breaths before it was completely destroyed by Fang Yuan's single strike.
The Bai Zu Gu Immortal's face lost all color. He was merely an ordinary Sixth Transformation cultivator. Seeing Fang Yuan's overwhelming might, how could he dare to linger? Without a word, he fled.
Fang Yuan didn't pursue. He slowly flew to the airspace above Chenglong Mound.
Chenglong Mound had been utterly transformed beyond recognition, but that was fine—Fang Yuan had the Rivers and Mountains As Before Immortal Gu in hand.
However, with other outsiders present, it wouldn't do to use it openly.
So instead, Fang Yuan activated another Immortal Gu.
Mountain Lifting!
Rumble, rumble, rumble…
Under the Chu Clan Gu Immortal's horrified gaze, the entire Chenglong Mound was wrenched from the earth by Fang Yuan, then his grotto-heaven portal yawned wide and Chenglong Mound was stuffed inside.
"He—he—he actually took the entire Chenglong Mound away!" The Chu Clan Gu Immortal stammered, completely incoherent.
Only now did he finally understand that what Fang Yuan had shouted moments ago was actually true—not just some morale-boosting bluster.
"Junior greets the Senior." The Chu Clan Gu Immortal lowered his head respectfully, flew to midair, and bowed to Fang Yuan once more.
He was cautious, with far more tension than before.
The aura Fang Yuan let off was that of a Sixth Transformation Gu Immortal. But the Chu Clan Gu Immortal harbored deep skepticism about this—he was thoroughly convinced that Fang Yuan was the kind of eccentric Senior powerhouse who enjoyed playing the pig to eat the tiger!
Fang Yuan smiled faintly, glancing toward the direction of Hei Fan's Grotto-heaven.
He didn't strike again.
This operation was quite large in scale. The Bai Zu Family would certainly act swiftly afterward, pouring everything into their retaliation.
Retreating immediately was the safest course of action.
After all, Chenglong Mound was already in his hands.
As for the Bai Zu Family Gu Immortals—there were only a handful of them, and they absolutely could not be killed. Killing Hei Family members was one thing, but killing Bai Zu Family Gu Immortals would thoroughly enrage Bai Zu Tian Jun!
That was not what a wise man would do.
Before long, news of the large-scale raid on the family reached Bai Zu Tian Jun.
"Oh? It seems Chu Du's hidden strength is not insignificant." Bai Zu Tian Jun was surprised.
"Eight Gu Immortals, all Strength Path cultivators. Chu Du, you've been plotting on quite the grand scale." Bai Zu Tian Jun narrowed his eyes, his tone turning chilling.
This Eighth Transformation Gu Immortal had to admit that he had underestimated Chu Du.
Not only had he underestimated Chu Du's personal combat strength, but he had also vastly underestimated the forces at his command.
Once news of this battle spread, it would undoubtedly shake the entire Northern Plains Gu Immortal world. No one would have expected that Chu Du had quietly assembled such a group around himself!
"But thinking this alone will make me retreat? You underestimate me, Bai Zu Tian Jun, far too much!" Bai Zu Tian Jun showed not the slightest intention of retreating or wavering. He chose to remain put, contemplating various methods of how to successfully infiltrate Hei Fan's Grotto-heaven.
Sure enough, as the news gradually spread, the Northern Plains Gu Immortal world—which had only recently calmed down—once again saw waves of unrest.