A middle-aged Gu Immortal appeared before Fang Yuan and Wu Yong.
He wore a red-and-white robe, his posture tall and straight, like a spear or a sword. Sharp brows swept toward his temples, and his eyes shimmered with a hidden radiance. A faint, gentle smile played at the corners of his lips — dashing and elegant, yet exuding a formidable, imposing aura.
But at this moment, a trace of melancholy flickered across his face.
This was none other than the world-renowned Central Continent Gu Immortal — the pillar of Ling Yuan Zhai, a Seventh Transformation Gu Master of the Sound Dao who could battle Eighth Transformation powerhouses!
Feng Jiuge!
How could he appear here?
Wu Yong and Fang Yuan couldn't help but be surprised.
Feng Jiuge's appearance and exploits had long since spread across all Five Regions. So although this was Wu Yong's first time seeing Feng Jiuge in the flesh, he recognized the man almost instantly.
After all, a Seventh Transformation Gu Immortal who could battle at the Eighth Transformation level — such a peerless genius appeared perhaps once in a millennium!
If not for Fang Yuan's alternate identity as Liu Guanyi, Feng Jiuge would likely still have stood unrivaled above all others.
The surprise on Wu Yong's face quickly subsided. He sneered at Feng Jiuge: "A Gu Immortal from Central Continent dares show himself before me. Good, very good!"
During the Dream Realm battle, Heavenly Court had reaped the greatest harvest, sweeping away numerous Immortal Gu from the Southern Border's Righteous Path cultivators.
Feng Jiuge now bore the fallout of that incident, drawing Wu Yong's hostility.
Fang Yuan's gaze also locked onto Feng Jiuge.
This was not the first time he had seen Feng Jiuge.
Five hundred years ago in his previous life, he had long since etched Feng Jiuge's features deep into his memory. There was no avoiding it — the brilliance Feng Jiuge had unleashed during the chaotic wars across the Five Regions had outshone even ordinary Eighth Transformation Gu Immortals. Unfortunately, Feng Jiuge had ultimately perished within the Langya Blessed Land.
His death had sent shockwaves through the entire world, destabilizing Central Continent while the other four regions celebrated.
And in this life, reborn as he was, Fang Yuan had also encountered Feng Jiuge.
It was inside that wondrous space of the Robber True Inheritance within Lost Memory Valley, where Fang Yuan had, by a twist of fate, saved Feng Jiuge's life.
Normally, Feng Jiuge would have perished in that space due to Qin Baisheng's suicidal attack. But Fang Yuan's rebirth had changed everything.
From this perspective, although Fang Yuan had acted without any particular intention, he was indeed Feng Jiuge's savior.
But what did being a benefactor matter?
In this world, wasn't ingratitude all too common?
Fang Yuan stared at Feng Jiuge, not daring to let his guard slip in the slightest, and called out coldly: "Feng Jiuge — are you the one Heavenly Court sent to stop me?"
Feng Jiuge glanced at Wu Yong, then fixed his gaze upon Fang Yuan.
Seeing Fang Yuan again, and under these circumstances at that, filled Feng Jiuge's heart with emotion.
Fang Yuan's progress had been far too rapid!
The first time Feng Jiuge had learned of Fang Yuan, the latter had just seized Feng Jinhuang's fortune and become the new master of the Fox Immortal's Blessed Land.
Feng Jiuge had come to know Fang Yuan's name because of his daughter.
But he hadn't given it a second thought at the time.
Why?
Because back then, Fang Yuan had been nothing more than a mere mortal. The gap between immortals and mortals was like heaven and earth, the two existing on entirely different planes of existence. One could even say that catching the faintest shred of attention from a dignified Gu Immortal like Feng Jiuge was already an extraordinary honor for a mortal like Fang Yuan.
But what followed had exceeded all of Feng Jiuge's expectations.
Fang Yuan committed great crimes, repeatedly bringing chaos upon the world. His identity was exposed — an otherworldly demon, wielding the Spring Autumn Cicada, inheriting the Ju Yang True Inheritance and more, leaving all who heard of it astonished. Particularly because Fang Yuan's advancement had been impossibly swift, from mortal to immortal, then to one of the most powerful Gu Immortals, as if accomplished in a single step.
How many Gu Immortals toiled for countless ages without ever reaching such heights?
Yet it seemed that Fang Yuan had achieved it all effortlessly.
The first time they truly met, Feng Jiuge had been saved by Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan had then inherited Ghost Unaware, one of the Robber True Inheritances. Subsequently, during the great battle at Yi Tian Mountain, Fang Yuan had played a pivotal and critical role.
"Who would have thought that Liu Guanyi was also Fang Yuan. A great era approaches, and heroes are rising one after another. Fang Yuan is currently the brightest star among them." Upon seeing Fang Yuan once more, Feng Jiuge sized him up with his gaze while making this assessment in his mind.
At the same time, he spoke, a trace of bitterness in his smile: "I traveled all the way from Central Continent, chasing after an Immortal Gu once used by a Robber Ancestor. I never expected to stumble upon this matter by accident."
"You're saying he wasn't sent by Heavenly Court?" Fang Yuan's brow furrowed immediately.
Based on Feng Jiuge's character and conduct, there was no reason for him to deceive Fang Yuan at a critical juncture like this.
Wu Yong, however, was unconvinced. He sneered: "I never thought Feng Jiuge could be so hypocritical. When I unleashed my battlefield killer move, if you truly hadn't wanted to get involved, you could have easily retreated. There was no way you'd have been caught inside the battlefield."
Feng Jiuge nodded: "You're right. I entered of my own accord. This is because I owe Fang Yuan a life debt. If I hadn't witnessed this, I might have let it go. But since I have witnessed it, I must lend my aid."
"What?" Wu Yong was stunned.
Fang Yuan was equally taken aback.
Wu Yong asked in disbelief: "I didn't just mishear you, did I? You owe him a life, so you're going to help him? Hahaha!"
Wu Yong burst into laughter.
Feng Jiuge was a Central Continent Gu Immortal, a member of one of the Ten Great Ancient Sects. Everyone assumed he would one day join the ranks of Heavenly Court.
And yet he was going to save Fang Yuan.
Who was Fang Yuan? An otherworldly demon, a notorious villain near the top of Heavenly Court's Demon Slaying List.
Feng Jiuge actually intended to help him?
This was an absolute joke.
Not only was Wu Yong laughing, but even the smile at the corners of Feng Jiuge's own lips deepened.
When Wu Yong noticed Feng Jiuge's smile, his laughter gradually ceased, and his expression slowly turned serious.