"Wind Lock?!"
"When did we get hit by this killing move?"
"We had absolutely no idea!!"
Every Immortal Gu Master in the Shadow Sect was stunned and bewildered.
They had never detected how this killing move had been laid upon them. Had the ancient battle formation's "Four-Directional Access" effect not been so poor, and the facts not laid bare before their eyes, if they had only heard Wu Yong's words, they would have assumed he was bluffing!
Never underestimate the methods of an Eighth Transformation Immortal Gu Master.
Though Wu Yong's seniority was not particularly high — in fact, among the Immortal Gu Masters of the Southern Border, he ranked below others of the Eighth Transformation — his family background ran deep. He had inherited Wu Duxiu's mantle, and his arsenal of techniques was extraordinarily vast.
Fang Yuan's brows knitted tightly.
"How does this Wind Lock killing move operate?"
"How long can it last?"
"How can I find its flaw and counter it?"
His mind churned like a raging sea, thoughts surging one after another. These questions tormented him, and the key was solving them immediately — his very life hung in the balance.
The Jade Purity Dripping Wind Miniature Bamboo Tower drew ever closer. Wu Yong's laughter carried over; clearly, he would not grant Fang Yuan ample time to think.
The situation was supremely urgent, demanding an immediate decision from Fang Yuan.
After a brief moment of thought, he issued a command to the others: "All of you, enter my Immortal aperture!"
"What?"
"Your strength is far too low. Fighting an Eighth Transformation Immortal Gu Master is tantamount to throwing your lives away. You'd be better off entering my Immortal aperture so we can study the Wind Lock and devise a countermeasure as quickly as possible!" Fang Yuan said bluntly, then immediately opened the portal to his Immortal aperture.
The Immortal Gu Masters exchanged glances.
But it wasn't long before Hei Loulan was the first to slip inside. Not having to die was obviously preferable. She had just been worrying that Fang Yuan might use the covenant binding her to force her to charge at Wu Yong — to deliberately throw her life away and buy time for his escape. She hadn't expected him to choose this course of action instead.
Miaoxiong Fairy and Hei Tu hesitated briefly, then both followed close behind.
Thanks to the true inheritance of Purple Mountain True Monarch, they had achieved something and become members of the Shadow Sect. But their recognition of Fang Yuan was primarily because he was the Shadow Sect's master.
Bai Ningbing, however, stayed behind till the end.
She was not, of course, showing concern for Fang Yuan. Rather, the gaze she fixed on Wu Yong carried a hint of eager anticipation.
Bai Ningbing craved a life of excitement, just as Fang Yuan pursued immortality — that feeling burned like fire, bordering on obsession.
"Stop entertaining wild fantasies. Even with your White Countenance, Wu Yong could grind you to dust in an instant without the slightest effort," Fang Yuan said urgently.
Bai Ningbing gave a cold snort but ultimately stepped forward and crossed through the portal into the Supreme Immortal aperture.
Fang Yuan hurriedly sealed the aperture and then frantically urged the Supreme Sky Eagle beneath his feet to fly ever faster.
Wu Yong's sigh drifted clearly from behind: "Fang Yuan, you truly are a remarkable figure. To think you had the means to impersonate Wu Yihai and infiltrate my Wu Family for so long. Your boldness is sky-high — you're the sort who accomplishes great things. A pity, what a pity. If only you were truly Wu Yihai."
Wu Yong's regret was genuine. He truly valued talent.
Fang Yuan fled ahead while Wu Yong pursued from behind.
The speed unleashed by the Supreme Sky Eagle, an ancient desolate beast, was still remarkably swift when it was pushing itself to the limit.
But the Jade Purity Dripping Wind Miniature Bamboo Tower was even faster.
After all, it was an Eighth Transformation Immortal Gu house!
Moreover, the tower possessed an enormous advantage — an Immortal Gu house never grew tired.
As long as Immortal Essence was sufficient, any Immortal Gu house could maintain a steady state indefinitely.
The Supreme Sky Eagle was a different matter entirely.
If it flew long enough, it would grow weary. It would feel exhausted.
Though in this regard, Fang Yuan apparently didn't need to worry.
Based on their current speeds, long before the Supreme Sky Eagle grew fatigued and its speed dropped, the Jade Purity Dripping Wind Miniature Bamboo Tower would have caught up.
"If there are others, call them all out!" Fang Yuan had his back to the direction of flight, facing Wu Yong. The auras of various Gu insects surged rapidly around him, swirling ceaselessly.
"Rest assured, it's only me," Wu Yong said with a smile, and activated the Immortal Gu house.
From the Jade Purity Dripping Wind Miniature Bamboo Tower, emerald bamboo leaves shot out continuously, transforming into arrows of wind that streaked toward Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan piloted the Supreme Sky Eagle, at one moment soaring upward, at the next plunging downward, spiraling through the air with practiced skill to dodge every wind arrow.
"Good. Your flying skills are solid. And your enslavement path techniques are quite impressive." Wu Yong's praise was unstinting.
But Fang Yuan sensed that things were going badly.
A faint breeze had coiled around him — barely perceptible at first, but now growing steadily stronger.
Not just him, either. Even the Supreme Sky Eagle's wings were entangled by two wisps of green wind, greatly hampering its flight speed.
"Wu Yong keeps attacking, forcing me to dodge and change direction. The Supreme Sky Eagle's speed hasn't dropped at all, but the Jade Purity Dripping Wind Miniature Bamboo Tower is pursuing in a straight line."
"And these wind coils around my body — this must be the so-called Wind Lock killing move. It can actually absorb the fierce gales scattered throughout the air to increase its power!"
Even when Wu Yong's attacks missed Fang Yuan entirely, they still served his purpose.
The distance between them was closing rapidly.
"Still haven't found a solution?" Fang Yuan asked the Shadow Sect members inside his Immortal aperture.
"Difficult!"
"I just had a glimmer of an idea."
"Obviously, this is an Eighth Transformation killing move — no small matter."
Useless chatter.
Fang Yuan gritted his teeth inwardly. At that moment he heard Wu Yong speak again: "You must be wondering how to break through my Wind Lock killing move right now. I'll tell you the truth — there's no harm in it. Once this move is deployed, it cannot be moved, but its range is quite vast, covering a radius of over a hundred thousand li. It also has a time limit. At present, it can still last for about half an incense stick's worth of time."
Wu Yong actually laid it out candidly.
Upon hearing this, Fang Yuan's heart sank like a stone.
This display by Wu Yong revealed his immense self-confidence. He already believed that Fang Yuan had fallen into his palm with no hope of escape!