Wu Yubo, a Seventh Transformation Gu Immortal of the Wu family, was defeated at the hands of Immortal Yan Huang.
With the Xia family's deliberate publicity, this news spread rapidly throughout the entire Southern Border Gu Immortal world, stirring up a wave of unrest.
"Wu Yubo is a Seventh Transformation powerhouse, one of the Wu family's most renowned fighters — how could he have lost to Immortal Yan Huang?"
"Immortal Yan Huang's combat strength was never low to begin with, and this time he received the Xia family's backing. His victory over Wu Yubo isn't exactly inconceivable."
"Wu Yubo has always been proud and arrogant. To fall to someone he once defeated — that's what's truly surprising."
"The real kicker is that Immortal Yan Huang actually managed to break through Wu Yubo's signature killing move. That's something else entirely. It was probably Xia Liupei of the Xia family who calculated it out."
The Xia family also had a Wisdom Path Gu Immortal who was considered one of the top divination experts in the Southern Border Gu Immortal world.
That person was Xia Liupei.
"This time, the Wu family really lost face. Not only did Wu Yubo lose to Immortal Yan Huang, he nearly lost his life. If Wu Yihai hadn't intervened to shatter the battlefield killer move, Wu Yubo would probably be dead."
"You're joking?"
"It's the absolute truth. All sorts of Gu worms have already circulated, and the images within them recreate exactly what happened."
"And the Wu family actually lost the Bowing Moon Bowl over it — ha! What a joke."
"If you trace it back to the source, the Bowing Moon Bowl was something the Wu family swindled and plundered in the first place. This time, they got exactly what they deserved!"
"Now that Wu Duxiu is gone, the Wu family really can't hold the number one title anymore."
Losing the Bowing Moon Bowl was far from a fatal blow to the Wu family, given their vast resources and deep reserves.
However, what truly put the Wu family in a difficult position was the fact that Fang Yuan had taken the initiative to intervene, shattering the battlefield killer move to rescue Wu Yubo.
This was the fundamental difference between the Righteous Path and the Demonic Path.
Fang Yuan's intervention to save Wu Yubo was an outright violation of the dueling agreement, making the entire contest unfair and costing the Wu family their honor.
The critical point was that the evidence was ironclad and undeniable.
The one overseeing the battle on Immortal Yan Huang's side was none other than Xia Cangcang, a Wisdom Path Gu Immortal of the Xia family. Being meticulous in all his work, he had long since used an Information Path Immortal Gu to record every moment of the event. Since the operation was targeted at the Wu family, the Xia family had naturally come fully prepared.
The Wu family had no choice but to acknowledge the matter. After Fang Yuan brought Wu Yubo back, Wu Yong immediately ordered Fang Yuan to be punished for violating the agreement and interfering in the duel — sentencing him to solitary wall reflection and a fine of several Immortal Yuan Stones.
Fang Yuan had saved Wu Yubo, which should have been a meritorious deed. From the Wu family's perspective, they had lost face, but they had also saved a Seventh Transformation Gu Immortal. When weighing which mattered more, the latter was obviously of far greater importance!
Fang Yuan performed a service, yet was punished by Wu Yong instead.
However, he felt no resentment in his heart. On the contrary, he held his nose and accepted the penalty. After returning to the Wu family's main base, he secluded himself in his mountain peak residence and never stepped foot outside.
The Bowing Moon Bowl incident continued to ferment, its influence expanding by the day.
Wu Yubo was a proud man by nature. Having lost to Immortal Yan Huang this time, he was consumed by shame and rage. Shortly after his return, he immediately announced that he would enter closed-door cultivation, intending to train rigorously and seek a rematch in the future to reclaim his honor.
Although the Wu family had lost the Bowing Moon Bowl Valley and Wu Yong had punished Fang Yuan for breaking the rules, the family's prestige had inevitably declined significantly because of this affair.
More importantly, the Xia family's maneuver undoubtedly provided inspiration to the other superpowers.
The Righteous Path was different from the Demonic Path.
The Righteous Path had its own set of rules for the game.
The Xia family had made full use of these rules, leaving the Wu family with no ground to protest even after losing the Bowing Moon Bowl.
The Xia family was rather unique among the Southern Border powers — and indeed across all Five Regions. This superpower was primarily composed of the Light Path and Wisdom Path factions. Although Wisdom Path Gu Immortals were rare in number, the Xia family always maintained four or five of them, some of whom were formidable powerhouses.
Among all the Wisdom Path Gu Immortals in the Southern Border, the Xia surname had always been the most prominent, commanding a substantial share.
It was no surprise that the Wu family had been outmaneuvered by the Xia family.
The other factions, having witnessed the Xia family's success, naturally grew eager to follow suit.
When Wu Duxiu was alive, the Wu family had been at the height of its power. They had seized other families' resources, expanded their territories at will, and incidents like the Bowing Moon Bowl were far from uncommon. Enemies like Immortal Yan Huang were plentiful as well.
This was exactly what other factions could exploit to strike back at the Wu family.
As intelligence poured in from all directions, Wu Yong immediately sensed that something was wrong — a storm was bearing down on the Wu family.
Sure enough, following the Bowing Moon Bowl incident, the Luo family launched a challenge against the Wu family, citing perfectly legitimate grounds that were remarkably similar to the Xia family's approach.
Shortly after, the Chi and Chai families also attempted to lay claim to the Wu family's Inspired Silkworm Cave and the Chunyang Mountain Range.
Wu Yong held down the central command, deploying forces as best he could, but the Wu family's territory was simply too vast and their manpower insufficient. At best, they could maintain a precarious equilibrium.
The Wu family was now mired in trouble, and Wu Yong was beside himself dealing with the crisis. Meanwhile, his brother — "Wu Yihai" — was living a comfortable, leisurely life.
Inside the Supreme Immortal Aperture.
"Let me go, I'm begging you, let me go! Aaaah!" Ma Hongyun's soul let out a piercing wail.
But Fang Yuan paid no heed and continued his soul-searching without mercy.
Ma Hongyun's soul could not withstand such torment and quickly grew weak and feeble.
Courage Gu.