The time spent waiting was often long and agonizing.
Shi Zhengyi paced back and forth through the great hall, too restless to sit still, so he simply stood up and wandered around.
Yu Yiyiezi sat cross-legged on the ground. He opened his eyes and said with displeasure, "Can't you just rest properly instead of pacing back and forth?"
Shi Zhengyi shouted, "I've already rested enough! Ugh, how long do we have to wait?"
"Until the Central Continent Gu Immortals arrive," said Bu Zhenzi.
"What if they don't come? Do we just keep waiting forever?" Zhao Lianyun furrowed her brow. She was growing impatient too.
During the battle against Fa Ji, all five Immortals had thrown themselves into the fight, so they hadn't felt the passage of time. Now, holed up here on standby, every single minute and second was torture.
Zhao Lianyun's case was even worse. It felt as though a fire was scorching her heart.
Bu Zhenzi frowned and was about to speak.
But at that moment, Zhao Lianyun sent another voice transmission: "You all must have some thoughts on this as well. The final scene within the Intercalary Path — you didn't just witness it, you experienced it firsthand. Tell me… could it be that the rest of the Gu Immortals were all wiped out in there?"
"Impossible!" Shi Zhengyi was the first to deny it. His expression changed, and there was a trace of anger in the way he looked at Zhao Lianyun.
Because his father, Shi Ge, was among those Gu Immortals. Zhao Lianyun's words were practically cursing his father to death.
Zhao Lianyun disregarded Shi Zhengyi's attitude and continued transmitting: "The truth is, we all know that we made it here because of the power of the Love Gu. But the remaining Gu Immortals — they don't have that kind of protection. Back then, even the Immortal Gu Houses were on the verge of collapsing, let alone individual Gu Immortals? If no reinforcements are coming at all, then what exactly are we waiting for?"
The other Gu Immortals' expressions shifted slightly upon hearing these words. In truth, they all harbored the same worry — they simply hadn't been willing to spell it out.
Now that Zhao Lianyun had torn that veil away, Bu Zhenzi considered for a moment before speaking in a low voice: "Your speculation isn't without merit. But even without reinforcements, the ten great ancient sects of Central Continent will send a second wave of Gu Immortals."
Zhao Lianyun cut in: "But can that second wave of reinforcements actually make it here? You all experienced the dangers and obstacles on the journey firsthand. Can the Intercalary Path be used a second time? Even if it can, would you dare trust it again?"
Bu Zhenzi stared intently into Zhao Lianyun's eyes and said gravely, "You need to believe in the sect, Zhao Lianyun. You are the current Fairy of Ling Yuan Zhai. The sect is your foundation. If you can't even believe in the sect, then who can you believe in?"
Zhao Lianyun keenly sensed the displeasure in Bu Zhenzi's heart.
But she was determined to press on regardless: "Even if the sect dispatches reinforcements and they manage to reach us — but what about the timing? When exactly can they arrive? What price will they have to pay? What unexpected incidents might occur? This is the Northern Plains, not Central Continent."
Bu Zhenzi fell silent.
He could not refute Zhao Lianyun's words.
Zhao Lianyun let out a turbid breath: "In any case, I can't take waiting anymore."
"You'll wait even if you can't take it," Bu Zhenzi said, his brows knitted tight, his face full of irritation.
He locked eyes with Zhao Lianyun. Neither was willing to back down. Both had their own convictions.
A mist quickly welled up in Zhao Lianyun's eyes. She looked away of her own accord, glancing to the side: "If something happens to Hongyun during this time — if he falls into danger — what then? Can you guarantee his safety?"
In truth, as the waiting wore on, Zhao Lianyun was growing more and more afraid.
What she feared was not her own safety.
Rather, it was that under circumstances where reinforcements were indefinitely delayed, waiting solved nothing.
If during this period Ma Hongyun was killed by Snow Hu Old Ancestor, his body used as Gu material to refine the Fortune Reaching Heaven Immortal Gu, then that would be Zhao Lianyun's regret for a lifetime.
When she thought back on it in the future, she would be consumed with remorse!
She had once been so close to Ma Hongyun. She had already broken into the Great Snow Mountain Blessed Land. Fate had given her an excellent opportunity, but she had failed to seize it.
From the Ninth Snow Peak, she could see the faint outline of the First Snow Peak. That was how close she was — yet here she sat, waiting uselessly, having lost her final chance.
Zhao Lianyun refused to let such a thing happen. That outcome would be more heartbreaking and agonizing than killing her!
Seeing Zhao Lianyun and Bu Zhenzi arguing, the other three Immortals felt it inappropriate to interject. After all, this was an internal matter of Ling Yuan Zhai.
Bu Zhenzi countered: "Even if you don't want to wait, can you actually save Ma Hongyun? Even if you defeat the other Peak Lords, don't forget that in the end you will have to face Snow Hu Old Ancestor — because Ma Hongyun is imprisoned on the First Snow Peak!"
"I know that," Zhao Lianyun said, clenching both fists and raising her voice. "But you yourself said that before we reach Snow Hu Old Ancestor, there are over a dozen Peak Lords we need to deal with. We can strike first and eliminate them all. After all, Eighth Transformation Gu Immortals cannot attack us within this Gu Formation! That way, the moment our reinforcements arrive, we can launch a direct assault on the First Snow Peak and save both time and effort."
Bu Zhenzi's face was dark with fury: "Then let me speak frankly. This super Gu Formation empowers the enemy while weakening us. If we leave this place, the formation will forcibly separate us and teleport us to different snow peaks. Fighting alone — do you think you three Sixth Transformation cultivators can handle those people? In the earlier battle, it was Immortal Friend Mu Linglan and I who served as the main force. What can the three of you Sixth Transformation Gu Immortals accomplish?"
Bu Zhenzi's words were harsh, but the three Sixth Transformation Gu Immortals could not retort, because what he said was nothing less than ironclad fact.