Central Continent, deep in the Earth Abyss.
Fine wine and delicacies had been laid out across the estate.
"Come, Brother Shi. I've long heard of your fondness for fine wine. I went out of my way to acquire these special brews, just for you to taste." Gu Immortal Yang Feng sat upright, gesturing with an open palm toward the honored guest across from him.
This guest had short white hair and a pair of golden pupils that gleamed with piercing sharpness. He wore a fitted martial outfit cinched at the waist with a blue-silver belt, and gleaming silver armor on his forearms and shins.
Broad as a wolf's back, narrow as a wasp's waist — his entire body radiated an aura of fierce bravery. But at the moment he was half-reclining, his posture casual and easygoing, which softened the overwhelming pressure he typically exuded.
Gu Immortal Yang Feng was a Seventh Transformation transformation-path Gu Immortal, a capable figure from the Ancient Soul Sect, one of the Ten Great Sects of the Central Continent. Yet before this guest, he inevitably found himself overshadowed.
This guest, surnamed Shi and given the name Lei, was one of the Central Continent's most powerful cultivators of the current era. His primary path was the earth path, with a secondary path in transformation. At the peak of the Seventh Transformation, he was known as the Immortal Monkey King!
"Then I won't stand on ceremony!" Shi Lei laughed heartily and reached for the heavy wine jar sitting on the table.
He cracked the clay seal, and immediately a powerful wave of wine fragrance surged forth like raging fire, billowing out in a torrent.
In an instant, the vast estate was permeated with an extraordinarily rich aroma of wine.
The wine vapors glowed deep crimson, lingering around the mouth of the jar without dissipating, like clusters of fiery clouds and sunset glow.
Shi Lei's eyes lit up, and he praised enthusiastically: "Excellent wine! So this is the legendary Crimson Emperor Wine. Brother Yang Feng, to think you could get your hands on something like this — you certainly have impressive means."
Gu Immortal Yang Feng laughed heartily: "I won't keep it from you, Brother Shi. It cost me a great deal to obtain this from our sect's storeroom. Truth be told, I was riding on the coattails of our predecessors. Three hundred thousand years ago, a Gu Immortal ancestor of our sect befriended the Eastern Sea's Emperor of Wine at a Gu refining grand assembly. The two held a Gu refining contest, agreeing that whichever side won would claim the other's creation. They battled for nine times nine — eighty-one days straight — winning and losing in turns, with no clear victor overall. This Crimson Emperor Wine was exactly what the Emperor of Wine lost to our ancestor."
The Ancient Soul Sect, one of the Ten Great Ancient Sects of the Central Continent, truly lived up to the word "Ancient" in its name — its history was the longest of all ten.
Three hundred thousand years ago was the Middle Antiquity era. Immortal Venerable Yuan Lian, Demon Venerable Dao Tian, and Immortal Venerable Ju Yang appeared one after another. A female Gu Immortal named Shui Ni also founded the water path and established the Spirit Fate Establishment during this time.
"Oh?" Shi Lei's interest was piqued. "The Emperor of Wine — I know of him. He was an Eighth Transformation food-path powerhouse, quite famous in human history. He devoted his entire life to refining the Three Emperors Five Lords Wine. According to legend, if all eight wines are combined, one can obtain the Eighth Transformation Immortal Wine Worm Gu. Using this Gu, one can refine Eighth Transformation White Lychee Immortal Essence into Ninth Transformation Yellow Apricot Immortal Essence. After his death, he left behind a lineage. The current Eastern Sea Gu Immortal Old Drunkard is the one hundred and thirty-seventh generation inheritor."
"Brother Shi, your breadth of knowledge is truly admirable. Please!" Yang Feng raised his cup.
But Shi Lei waved him off: "Drinking from cups is far too unsatisfying. Let's go straight from the jar!"
"Very well. Brother Shi's boldness is admirable. I'll match you to the end!" Yang Feng laughed and slapped the table.
But just as Shi Lei's hand touched the wine jar, he suddenly froze. His expression shifted subtly as he turned to look at the sky beyond the entrance.
A message-path Gu Immortal Gu had appeared above the estate, circling in the air but unable to descend.
Shi Lei's golden pupils flashed: "That's a Gu Immortal Gu from my sect. Brother Yang Feng, please open a path through your defenses."
This estate was no ordinary mortal structure. Its architecture was exquisite, its layout magnificent — white jade floor tiles, chilling mist, with faint roars of dragon souls echoing within. It was the Cold Loong Estate, a Gu Immortal house belonging to the Ancient Soul Sect!
Yang Feng manipulated the Gu Immortal house to open a passage, allowing the message-path Gu Immortal Gu to fly down into Shi Lei's hands.
After examining it, Shi Lei's expression shifted subtly.
Another sect's affairs were none of his business, so Yang Feng simply raised his cup and silently savored the Crimson Emperor Wine.
To his surprise, Shi Lei spoke up on his own: "The Northern Plains Gu Immortals really are warlike. The Hei family has barely fallen, and already the Northern Plains Gu Immortals are fighting again. This time it's even bigger — all the Golden Families have banded together to deal with the newly formed alliance between the Centipede Family and Chu's Gate."
"Chu's Gate?" Yang Feng asked, puzzled.
"A recently established sect. Do you know Chu Du of the Northern Plains?"
"I know a little. A force-path Gu Immortal, known as the Tyrant Immortal, right?"
"Precisely. Chu's Gate was founded by him. This man is not to be underestimated — he held off the Centipede Heavenly Lord's assault using only the Hei Fan Grotto-Heaven. He also secretly cultivated several force-path Gu Immortals. His strength is no small matter."
Yang Feng furrowed his brows, taking a moment to digest this before speaking: "The force path is a sunset road — nothing to fear. But the founding of Chu's Gate must be a first for the Northern Plains. This Chu Du is truly bold!"
"Indeed." Shi Lei grinned wide. "This is going to be quite the show. Both sides have agreed to hold a martial tournament. Heh heh, the Northern Plains really is lively — always some fight or another going on. Why wasn't I born in the Northern Plains?"
*Cough, cough.*
Shi Lei slapped his own forehead: "Oh, I almost forgot what matters. Heavenly Court has issued orders — we are to attack the Constellation Blessed Land immediately."
"What? Has Heavenly Court confirmed that Fang Yuan won't be returning?" Yang Feng asked, startled.
It turned out that ever since Ying Wu Xie's escape, Fairy Zi Wei had never given up. She had been ceaselessly working to divine Fang Yuan's whereabouts.
Fang Yuan's true body location had not been exposed, and even Crown Prince Feng Xian's side had made no progress. But Fairy Zi Wei, relying on scattered clues and combining them with her formidable abilities, had forcefully calculated the location of the Constellation Blessed Land.
The Constellation Blessed Land was situated in the depths of the Earth Abyss, right within the Ancient Soul Sect's territory.
Fairy Zi Wei had specifically assigned Gu Immortal Shi Lei to carry out this operation.
Shi Lei was a Supreme Elder of the Battle Immortal Sect, so the Ancient Soul Sect dispatched Yang Feng to coordinate with him.
Shi Lei had received his orders and acted according to Fairy Zi Wei's plan, lying in wait. If Fang Yuan ever returned to the Constellation Blessed Land, he would strike to capture him.
But he waited a long time, and not a trace of Fang Yuan appeared.
Some time ago, the Constellation Blessed Land had suffered a tribulation, and Fang Yuan had coldly abandoned it without a second thought.
Fairy Zi Wei recognized Fang Yuan's resolve and further divined that leaving the Constellation Blessed Land intact would prove of considerable help to Fang Yuan in the future.
So she cut to the chase and ordered Shi Lei to conquer the Constellation Blessed Land outright.
Spirit Fate Establishment.
Heart Lake Mountain.
Feng Jinhuang's residence.