"Cooperation."
Hearing Fang Yuan's proposal, a complex expression inevitably crossed Ying Wuxie's face.
The relationship between Fang Yuan and Shadow Sect could be described as deeply intertwined and tangled.
Fang Yuan, who was half a demon from the outside world, had once been a chess piece arranged by the will of Heaven, who gambled everything to return to the past and destroy Shadow Sect's grand plan.
Having successfully seized the Supreme Immortal Aperture Gu, Fang Yuan became irreconcilably opposed to Shadow Sect from that point forward — they could not coexist under the same heaven.
In the Battle of Righteous Mountain, Shadow Sect suffered a devastating defeat and wished nothing more than to tear Fang Yuan to shreds.
However, Fang Yuan made full use of time and the advantages of his Supreme Immortal Body to gradually grow powerful, even beginning to hunt down Ying Wuxie and the others.
If Ying Wuxie and his companions hadn't read the situation correctly and possessed exceptional escape techniques, they would long since have perished at Fang Yuan's hands.
After the battle at the Reverse Flow River, Fang Yuan had grown strong enough to fight Eighth Transformation Gu Immortals.
Under the leadership of the Concealed Master of Purple Mountain, Shadow Sect began to change its strategy, becoming willing to cooperate with Fang Yuan. This was the turning point in their relationship.
It was precisely because of this groundwork that, at this moment, when Fang Yuan proposed cooperation, Ying Wuxie nodded and replied: "Then let's cooperate."
Ying Wuxie had no aversion to cooperating with Fang Yuan.
To be precise, he had once felt aversion and disgust, and when the Concealed Master of Purple Mountain first proposed it, he couldn't understand it at all.
But people always change.
If it had been during the Battle of Righteous Mountain, when Ying Wuxie had just come into existence, still ignorant and naive, he would never have entertained the thought of cooperating with a mortal enemy.
When Shadow Sect was at its peak, Fang Yuan had been weak as an ant, and Ying Wuxie would never have been so foolish as to consider cooperating with him.
After the devastating loss at Righteous Mountain, Ying Wuxie harbored extreme hatred toward Fang Yuan, and the foundation for any cooperation between them was zero. All Ying Wuxie could think about was how to restore Shadow Sect's former glory.
But as Fang Yuan's strength soared continuously and he repeatedly hunted down Ying Wuxie and the others, the increasingly desperate Ying Wuxie inevitably developed a wariness toward Fang Yuan. Recently, as Fang Yuan chased them all the way to the Northern Plains, Ying Wuxie's wariness toward Fang Yuan was joined by a growing fear.
After the great battle at the Reverse Flow River, Ying Wuxie developed an entirely new emotion toward Fang Yuan.
That was admiration.
Fang Yuan had accomplished things that Ying Wuxie could never have done. Such a figure truly deserved to be chosen by the will of Heaven and sent back through time specifically to oppose Shadow Sect.
"It's not that I'm not strong enough — it's that my opponent is Fang Yuan." With this thought, Ying Wuxie suddenly realized that his string of failures was not so hard to accept after all.
"How do we cooperate? I'm about to be overwhelmed," Ying Wuxie asked directly.
Fang Yuan raised his eyebrows slightly. Ying Wuxie's attitude was remarkably straightforward, which caught Fang Yuan somewhat by surprise.
"Of course, I'll act first to help you. The Heavenly Court's forces are too strong — only if we join forces will we have any hope." Fang Yuan sighed and began to communicate with the Xia Family Gu Immortal who was battling Ying Wuxie.
"Retreat? Why should I retreat? I've already seen through my opponent's cards — victory is within my grasp!" The Xia Family Gu Immortal was very confused.
"The Yao Family Gu Immortal over there is in dire straits and needs your immediate assistance. Go quickly. I'm commanding the overall battle — how could you possibly have my big-picture perspective?" Fang Yuan said without any courtesy.
The Xia Family Gu Immortal was extremely displeased in his heart, but given Wu Yihai's status and the fact that he currently controlled the super Gu Formation, he could only snort coldly in his mind, turn around, and retreat.
"Then how are you going to help me? Hurry up and act!" Ying Wuxie urged, then suddenly widened his eyes in surprise as he saw his opponent suddenly pull back, staring at him with an unwilling expression before swiftly flying away.
"What are you fussing about? I'm already helping you," Fang Yuan's voice came at just the right moment.
Ying Wuxie's heart trembled violently. "You're telling me you weren't the one disguised as him? Or... is he one of your people?"
"Enough nonsense. Tell me — what exactly is Shadow Sect's plan? Don't tell me you don't have a contingency prepared," Fang Yuan asked immediately.
Ying Wuxie smiled bitterly and replied: "Of course we have a contingency. That would be me."
BOOM!
A tremendous explosion erupted, and from the surging shockwaves, the Concealed Master of Purple Mountain burst through the dazzling radiance, diving downward at extreme speed.
"Why are you running? Come and fight!" Lord Dragon pursued relentlessly from behind.
At this moment, his long hair whipped wildly, and his powerful physique had undergone a dramatic transformation. Not only had his dragon horns grown longer and sharper, but his hands had turned into dragon claws, a dragon tail lashed behind him, and his entire skin was covered in a thick, dense layer of dragon scales.
The Concealed Master of Purple Mountain was somewhat disheveled, but his gaze remained clear and composed.
"Lord Dragon — according to historical records, he primarily cultivated the Qi Path. Due to insufficient lifespan, he also cultivated the Transformation Path," the Concealed Master of Purple Mountain thought rapidly.
"Just the Transformation Path techniques alone are this formidable. He truly deserves to be compared to someone like Bo Qing."
"Let me first have him taste this move."
With this thought, the Concealed Master of Purple Mountain suddenly halted his momentum and deftly changed direction, flying diagonally upward.
At the same time, his ten fingers flickered in succession, as if plucking strings.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Endless streaks of purple starlight burst from his fingertips one after another, cutting through the sky toward Lord Dragon.
These starlight streaks were dazzlingly brilliant, not only extremely fast but also capable of leaving behind tails of light several zhang long as they traveled through the air — a spectacular sight.
Lord Dragon grunted, sensing that these small purple starlight streaks were not as simple as they appeared.
He quickly activated his offensive techniques to meet them head-on.