The surrounding space suddenly sealed shut. Heaven and earth merged into a seamless sphere, forming a vast expanse of clear azure sky.
The expressions of every Southern Border Gu Immortal shifted.
"This is a trap!" someone shouted.
Many began to panic.
Lu Weiyin remained silent. Xia Cha's gaze grew ever more sinister as she fixed her eyes on Fang Yuan.
The smile on Fang Yuan's lips gradually faded, his expression turning indifferent — like a lofty god gazing down upon these Southern Border Gu Immortals from on high.
Once, when Hua An of the Eastern Sea — one of the three prodigies of the Wisdom Path — had calculated him, Fang Yuan had turned the tables and learned Hua An's identity. Now, when this group of Southern Border Gu Immortals had been calculating and hunting him, they too had revealed their flaws to Fang Yuan!
Fang Yuan was a Grandmaster of the Wisdom Path. How could he possibly be so easily outmaneuvered? He had used himself as bait to lure every last one of these Gu Immortals into his ambush.
"Stay calm! We have overwhelming numbers — what is one Fang Yuan?"
"Indeed. We have Lady Xia Cha and Lord Lu Weiyin — we fear none of his Immortal Battlefields!"
"This Immortal Battlefield… it doesn't seem to be the Netherworld Battlefield."
"Of course not. That traitor Fang Yuan's Netherworld Battlefield was already broken by the Central Continent's Heavenly Court, and its image has been displayed non-stop in the Treasure Yellow Heaven. How could he possibly use that method again?"
The Southern Border Gu Immortals were elite cultivators — they quickly steadied their minds and rallied their morale.
At that moment, Lu Weiyin spoke slowly: "This is not an Immortal Battlefield. It is a supreme grand formation."
"A Time Path grand formation," Xia Cha added.
"Your eyes are truly discerning." Fang Yuan smiled and admitted it openly.
Fang Yuan's most powerful Immortal Battlefield killing moves were Purple Star Severing Fate and the Netherworld Battlefield. The former had slain Qin Baihe and You Chan; the latter had once imprisoned Feng Jiuge, briefly plunging him into a desperate situation.
However, both were Seventh Transformation level — insufficient to restrain the Eighth Transformation Gu Immortal Xia Cha. Lu Weiyin was likewise an Eighth Transformation cultivator. That was why Fang Yuan had chosen an immortal grand formation instead.
There was a difference between an Immortal Grand Formation and an Immortal Battlefield.
The Gu worms that produced an Immortal Battlefield typically resided on the Gu Immortal's body, and the battlefield primarily created a closed combat environment. The Gu worms of an Immortal Grand Formation, on the other hand, remained in the outside world. Most immortal formations defended inward and attacked outward, but Fang Yuan's Time Path grand formation enclosed the space within, creating a configuration for extermination.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
Explosions erupted without warning, continuing without cease.
"Since it's an Immortal Grand Formation, then let's find the formation eyes and destroy them one by one!" A Gu Immortal who had long grown impatient began bombarding the surroundings, probing the grand formation.
In the next instant, they noticed the problem. Brilliant, dazzling killing moves fizzled out one after another, barely effective.
Tie Quzhong's expression changed as he called out in a loud voice: "Everyone, be careful — this formation has already been activated!"
"As expected of Time Path methods," Liu Hao said in a sinister tone. "It accelerates our killing moves, forcing them to reach their time limits faster and self-destruct."
The Southern Border Gu Immortals' offensive faltered, and they quickly switched tactics.
The Chai family Gu Immortal puffed out his cheeks and spat a burst of orange-red flame. The fire burned without ceasing, rapidly spreading even through empty air.
The Qiao family Gu Immortal pressed her palms together. Vast sheets of frost crystallized rapidly, sweeping in all directions.
These were sustained attacks with no significant time limits.
Fang Yuan watched coldly as the Southern Border Gu Immortals unleashed their attacks, making no move himself.
In the next moment, the Time Path grand formation hummed. Whether it was fire, frost, or any other form of attack — all slowed to a crawl.
Every Southern Border Gu Immortal who had acted felt their hearts sink.
"This immortal formation responds so flexibly — someone else must be operating it."
"Who else could it be? It must be the remnants of the Shadow Sect, without doubt!"
The Gu Immortals continued to exchange hurried messages.
Just as they suspected, Bai Ningbing, Hei Loulan, the White Rabbit Maiden, Fairy Miaoyin, and Ying Wuxie were each managing a formation eye, operating this Time Path grand formation to encircle and slaughter the Southern Border Gu Immortals.
Previously, during the Battle of Langya, they had been deemed unworthy of combat — Fang Yuan had kept them hidden. Now they were giving their all against these Southern Border pursuers.
The Southern Border Gu Immortals clashed with Ying Wuxie and the others, while Fang Yuan, Lu Weiyin, and Xia Cha stood motionless. The surrounding Gu Immortals instinctively cleared a space, leaving room for those three.
Fang Yuan's attention was focused squarely on these two Eighth Transformation Gu Immortals. He knew with absolute clarity: if these two didn't act, that was one thing — but the moment they struck, the impact would be earth-shattering!
Although Lu Weiyin and Xia Cha had not yet struck, they had already begun probing Fang Yuan's immortal grand formation.
Lu Weiyin's brow furrowed slightly. He specialized in the Earth Path and could apply his understanding to other fields to some degree, but this Time Path grand formation was far too profound and subtle for an outsider to easily penetrate.
Xia Cha, however, was a Grandmaster of the Time Path. Naturally, she could discern more than Lu Weiyin. But Fang Yuan's Time Path grand formation was not purely about the Time Path — it also incorporated the Formation Path!
In terms of the Formation Path, Xia Cha's attainment was quite ordinary.
If Fang Yuan had deployed a Time Path killing move, Xia Cha might have easily seen through it. But a Time Path grand formation was a different matter entirely — for Xia Cha, there were still many barriers to overcome.
"Sect Master, the moment has arrived!" At that moment, Ying Wuxie suddenly sent a voice transmission to Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan smiled faintly and replied: "Then let them all in."