Fang Yuan had originally thought that pursuing the Shadow Sect was a lost cause. Never did he expect that the Shadow Sect would deliver this precious opportunity right before his eyes.
Because of the Supreme Immortal Fetus Gu, the Shadow Sect would absolutely not let Fang Yuan go. If he didn't eradicate the Shadow Sect and gave them room to develop, then in the future, he might suffer the same fate as Ma Hongyun.
Wiping out the Shadow Sect — who would know Fang Yuan's true identity? Eliminating this great trouble while it was still in its infancy was naturally Fang Yuan's best option, and it would conveniently resolve the drawbacks of fortune linkage as well.
Then he could develop slowly, secretly using dream Realms for secluded cultivation, leveraging the Supreme Immortal aperture. With all of this, Fang Yuan would possess the finest foundation for growth in the entire world.
Once five hundred years had passed, Fang Yuan's strength would be utterly transformed. Whether it was his cultivation level, combat power, or accumulated wealth, all would be beyond imagination.
After that, during the chaotic warfare across the Five Regions, he could fish in troubled waters, or even launch direct assaults. Perhaps even Heaven's Court would be powerless against him.
If circumstances developed favorably and he cultivated to the Ninth Transformation, then the goal of eternal life would be one step closer.
This was Fang Yuan's cultivation plan — very pragmatic.
Now, an unparalleled opportunity to eradicate the Shadow Sect lay right before him. How could Fang Yuan possibly let it slip?
The key was that the Shadow Sect didn't even know he was here.
Fang Yuan was hidden in the shadows.
Who would know that Wu Yihai was him? The Righteous Path was entirely unaware. Even his nominal elder brother, Wu Yong, was kept completely in the dark.
It had to be said — eliminating Wu Yihai and impersonating him to infiltrate the Wu clan had been a brilliant move.
Though it carried risks, without that single step, how could Fang Yuan have welcomed such an opportunity?
Naturally, he had to seize it.
"Perhaps this time, I can even capture Soul Emperor's main body."
"With Soul Emperor's main body in hand, a soul search interrogation would yield all of Soul Emperor's cultivation memories and experiences from when he was alive. His vast soul path knowledge, his experiences and perspective, his various insights from the Gate of Life and Death. Countless Gu recipes, killer moves, secret lore…"
Not to mention anything else, what enticed Fang Yuan the most was the Soul Calling Into Dream killer move.
With this killer move, combined with his own dream-unraveling methods and the Courage Gu, in the field of dream exploration, Fang Yuan would firmly hold the position of number one in the world. He would claim an enormous, overwhelming head start, leaving all the Gu Immortals and forces of the world far behind in his dust. Even Heaven's Court would be choking on it at his heels.
Ding ding ding.
Sound waves rippled outward like dense concentric rings, spreading from around Qiao Siliu.
Fairy Miaoyin's arms had now increased to six. Her fingers danced through intricate hand seals, conjuring elegant and dazzling patterns of light and shadow. Her offensive power had doubled compared to before.
Yet Qiao Siliu held her ground with perfect stability.
Her entire pupils had transformed into jade eyes, and her luxuriant black hair had turned into individual willow branches that hung down to her waist.
The two famous fairies of the Southern Border remained locked in stalemate.
"Damn it, I can't hold — flee!" A flash of terror crossed a Demonic Path Gu Immortal's eyes as he spun around and retreated.
BOOM.
A tremendous aura crashed down behind him like a thunderclp.
"You cowardly rat, die!" A Righteous Path Gu Immortal roared, thrusting out his massive hand and seizing the Demonic Path Gu Immortal's head.
Then lightning flashed and thunder rolled. Waves of deep blue electricity blanketed the battlefield.
The electric light persisted for a brief moment before slowly dissipating.
The opponent clutched in the Righteous Path Gu Immortal's hand had already been reduced to a charred skeleton, barely recognizable as human in shape.
"Hmph. An overestimating little rat who dared posture in front of me, Yi Heiting." The Righteous Path Gu Immortal opened his hand, and the Demonic Path Gu Immortal's remains immediately tumbled to the ground, shattering into a pile of black fragments.
"Is this the extent of all your attacks?" A tall, sharp-nosed Righteous Path Gu Immortal clad in battle armor spoke with cold disappointment etched across his face.
"Stop talking big!"
"Iron Heart Sword of the Iron family — haven't you always been suppressed by us? How dare you even—"
The three Gu Immortals besieging Iron Heart Sword were about to deliver their mocking retorts when their expressions all changed simultaneously.
A heaven-piercing aura — fierce and razor-sharp beyond measure — erupted violently from Iron Heart Sword's body.
The three Gu Immortals stumbled backward, their guard raised to the highest.
Wind and energy surged around them, sending their robes fluttering wildly, but Iron Heart Sword remained perfectly calm. He even slowly closed his eyes and spoke in an unhurried voice: "It's useless. I've already seen all your moves. Your weaknesses are completely exposed before my eyes, without the slightest concealment."
"You motherf—" One of the Gu Immortals began to curse, but before he could finish, his entire body convulsed violently.
Pfft. Pfft. Pfft.
Three soft sounds. Three streaks of sword qi flashed and vanished in an instant, so fast it was almost perceived as a hallucination.
Heads flew through the air. All three Gu Immortals who had just been besieging Iron Heart Sword were decapitated in a single breath, their life force utterly extinguished.
"Hahaha!" Hei Loulan roared with laughter, his body covered in horrific wounds.
Shang Guaili possessed Seventh Transformation cultivation, yet at this moment, looking at Hei Loulan, his face was filled with utter shock — his earlier ease and contempt long since gone.
"As expected of a Northern Plains Gu Immortal. Truly battle-mad to the core." Though Shang Guaili was unwilling, the injuries he had sustained had already pushed him close to his personal threshold.
"Retreat." That thought had just flashed through his mind.