"So that's the connection!" Upon hearing the Flower Butterfly Fairy's explanation, the Bee General's expression immediately softened, joy blooming across his face, and most of his wariness dissolved.
The so-called Chu Ying was, of course, none other than Fang Yuan in disguise.
He retracted his Immortal Orifice and discovered traces of fierce Gu Immortal battles in the surrounding sea.
Curious, he followed the trails to see if there was anything to be gained. But what he found was the Flower Butterfly Fairy and another Gu Immortal—the Bee General—being pursued.
Their pursuer was merely a Seventh Transformation Immortal Zombie. For Fang Yuan, such a figure was no longer worth his attention.
Fang Yuan had helped the Flower Butterfly Fairy some time ago, with the aim of establishing contact with the powerful Space Path Gu Immortal behind her—Miao Ming Shen.
This individual possessed the means to locate the Azure Dragon Whale.
The Azure Dragon Whale was no ordinary creature. It had once received guidance from Immortal Venerable Le Tu, who had opened an Immortal Orifice within its body, granting it access to a wealth of treasures.
It was equivalent to the dogtail life-prolonging marten Mao Liqiu of the Northern Plains.
However, the Azure Dragon Whale's intelligence had never been awakened—it merely followed its instincts, roaming the vast ocean.
Immortal Venerable Le Tu had not only opened its Immortal Orifice but had also cast immortal killer moves upon its body. As a result, the Azure Dragon Whale had virtually no natural predators or threats.
The Azure Dragon Whale was gentle and harmless, but its powerful defensive capabilities left even those with hostile intentions at a loss.
This was entirely consistent with Immortal Venerable Le Tu's character and methods.
According to secret rumors from five hundred years ago, the Azure Dragon Whale's body contained one of Immortal Venerable Le Tu's true inheritances.
Fang Yuan remembered that Miao Ming Shen had explored the Azure Dragon Whale's inner world numerous times. But he had never found the key—though he gained something each time, he never obtained the true inheritance.
Fang Yuan was naturally interested. So when he saw the Flower Butterfly Fairy being chased, he immediately realized this was another rare opportunity to extend goodwill toward Miao Ming Shen.
He intervened mid-pursuit and drove off the Thunder Path Immortal Zombie, Ge Wen.
The form he had assumed was not the Ancient Sword Flood Dragon.
The Ancient Sword Flood Dragon could no longer be revealed.
Liu Guanyi had previously used the Ancient Sword Flood Dragon transformation in the Northern Plains to slay Yelu Qunxing.
Now Liu Guanyi's identity had become that of the Lord of the Reverse Flow River, and even multiple Eighth Transformation existences on the scene had been powerless against him. His fame shook the world, and there was scarcely anyone in the Gu Immortal world who hadn't heard of him.
Countless people had taken an interest in Liu Guanyi, attempting to divine his origins.
The fact that Liu Guanyi possessed the Ancient Sword Flood Dragon transformation was already widely known.
Therefore, if Fang Yuan were to use the Ancient Sword Flood Dragon transformation now, other Gu Immortals would most likely connect him to Liu Guanyi at the very first moment.
Such was the burden of fame.
Though Fang Yuan could no longer use the Ancient Sword Flood Dragon transformation, he possessed the Transformation Immortal Gu, which could transform into anything under heaven and earth, entirely at his whim.
This time, he had taken the form of the Blue-scale Sea Dragon, a creature unique to the Eastern Sea.
This, too, was an ancient beast.
Its power, however, could not compare to that of the Ancient Sword Flood Dragon.
That said, Fang Yuan's Dragon Breath Immortal Gu was still usable.
It was worth noting that the Blue-scale Sea Dragon's breath was, of course, expelled in bursts. The reason he had been able to overpower the Thunder Path Immortal Zombie Ge Wen was that he simultaneously activated the Persistence Immortal Gu.
Having obtained the Seventh Transformation Persistence Immortal Gu, Fang Yuan had naturally spent considerable time studying and understanding it.
A Gu Immortal needed to invest effort in three areas: raising, using, and refining Gu.
In the days since arriving at the Eastern Sea, Fang Yuan had already worked out several methods of applying the Persistence Immortal Gu.
Beyond conquering the Reverse Flow River, the Persistence Immortal Gu could make other immortal Gu or immortal killer moves more sustained.
Take the Blue-scale Sea Dragon's breath, for example.
If Fang Yuan merely activated the Dragon Breath Immortal Gu, the breath could not exceed what was normal for a sea dragon—it could only be expelled in bursts, with perhaps somewhat greater power at best.
But if he supplemented it with the Persistence Immortal Gu during the breath, then the dragon breath could flow continuously for an extended period, unbroken and unceasing!
Of course, the duration couldn't be too long. The breath placed an enormous burden on the throat—even an actual Blue-scale Sea Dragon expelled its breath in bursts. This was a self-protective adaptation that had evolved over the course of biological development.
Fortunately, though Ge Wen had some minor renown, after a single exchange of blows he recognized Fang Yuan as a formidable opponent and prudently withdrew.
After all, Demonic Path Gu Immortals had always prioritized profit above everything else.
"I wonder who this fellow immortal might be?" Fang Yuan turned his gaze toward the Flower Butterfly Fairy.
"I am the Bee General, serving under Lord Miao Ming Shen. Lord Chu, you are my savior—I hardly know how to thank you." The Bee General immediately introduced himself, brimming with enthusiasm and gratitude toward Fang Yuan.