Purple Violet Fairy's face was dark as water.
The Central Grand Hall was the hub of all Heavenly Court's palaces. Its destruction caused Purple Violet Fairy's control over their forces to plummet immediately! Continuing to mobilize would cost far more time and energy.
Yet in such a life-and-death battle, every single breath was precious.
The Central Grand Hall had been reduced to rubble. Before the Calamity Fate Altar, a towering spire stood tall.
"The Observing Heaven Tower!" From within the Calamity Fate Altar, Bing Saichuan's gaze blazed with intensity.
The Observing Heaven Tower was famous throughout the world, known to every Gu Immortal across the Five Regions. At this moment, it stood motionless, enclosed at the center of a Refinement Path Grand Formation that radiated brilliant light.
"The Fate Gu is at the very top of the Observing Heaven Tower, under the command of the Refinement Path Grand Formation, being continuously repaired!" Bing Saichuan's brow furrowed slightly.
Heavenly Court's defenses were remarkably thorough. At the very last moment, there was still an Observing Heaven Tower standing guard.
The Central Continent Gu Refinement Conference had not yet ended, but only the final round remained. Because countless Gu Masters had failed their Gu refinements, numerous Success Dao Marks had already accumulated within the Invincible Blessed Land.
These Dao Marks had been continuously extracted by Heavenly Court and were now being used to repair the Fate Gu, ensuring nothing could go wrong.
"We can't directly destroy this Refinement Path Grand Formation. If it backfires, all progress on repairing the Fate Gu would be lost, reverting it instantly to its original damaged state. It seems we'll have to enter the formation and seize it!" With this thought, Bing Saichuan immediately issued orders to Five Elements Grandmaster and Niu Mo.
Niu Mo accepted the order without hesitation, but Five Elements Grandmaster wavered. "Lord Bing Saichuan, there is one concern I'm afraid I can't handle well. If we find a perfect opportunity to seize the Fate Gu, but it hasn't been fully repaired yet, what should we do?"
This was indeed a thorny problem.
Heavenly Court possessed the means to repair the Fate Gu. They relied on Human Path killer moves, hosting the Central Continent Gu Refinement Conference to accumulate massive quantities of failures, then collecting Success Dao Marks through the Invincible Blessed Land for use in Gu refinement.
Eternal Life had no such means.
Bing Saichuan looked at Five Elements Grandmaster. At this point, there was no need for concealment. He spoke frankly: "This is precisely the state of the Fate Gu we want. Heavenly Court has toiled for countless years, painstakingly repairing it until it is nearly healed. It is this version of the Fate Gu that we desire."
"A fully repaired Fate Gu cannot be directly utilized by anyone. Even Heavenly Court can only take indirect approaches, using the Immortal Gu House Observing Heaven Tower to observe the life trajectories of all things in the world. If someone could truly master the Fate Gu, they would be able to set the trajectory of fate itself and chart the course of every life. Unfortunately, every Immortal Venerable throughout Heavenly Court's history has made countless attempts, only to fail each time, with not a shred of success."
Five Elements Grandmaster asked in puzzlement, "If that's the case, then what use is a nearly-repaired Fate Gu to us?"
Bing Saichuan smiled faintly. "We cannot directly manipulate the Fate Gu. Past Venerables have all speculated on the reason — most likely, the activation threshold of the Fate Gu is extraordinarily high, and only the will of Heaven can operate it. But that doesn't mean we can't put it to use."
"Heavenly Court's Observing Heaven Tower is the perfect example. It's just that their use of the Fate Gu is rather superficial."
"Beyond that, Heavenly Court has another method — using the Fate Gu as a Gu material and refining it together with a Fortune Path Immortal Gu to create the Destiny Gu!"
"The Destiny Gu?" Five Elements Grandmaster's pupils contracted slightly.
The smile at the corner of Bing Saichuan's mouth grew more pronounced. "And that is precisely why Heavenly Court previously invaded the Northern Plains and attempted to seize the Fortune Rival Heaven Gu."
"So that's it." Understanding dawned on Five Elements Grandmaster.
Bing Saichuan continued, "But they don't know that the concept of the Destiny Gu was first proposed by Immortal Ancestor Giant Sun himself. Heavenly Court wanted to directly refine a Ten Transformation Destiny Gu — their ambition was far too great. We are different; we only aim to refine a Ninth Transformation Destiny Gu. Therefore, the Fate Gu serving as our material doesn't need to be completely repaired."
"As long as we possess a Ninth Transformation Destiny Gu, Eternal Life will be able to stand against Heavenly Court, dominate the coming great era, supplant Heavenly Court, and even rule over the Five Regions — becoming the supreme ruler of all things under heaven and earth. It is entirely possible!"
Five Elements Grandmaster listened with jaw agape, stunned by Eternal Life's grand ambitions, and all the more awed by the grand design of Immortal Venerable Giant Sun. "So Eternal Life's attack on Heavenly Court was already being planned during the time of Immortal Venerable Giant Sun, and only now has it been put into action!"
With Bing Saichuan's explanation and encouragement, Five Elements Grandmaster harbored no further hesitation. Side by side with Niu Mo, he shot forth like lightning, charging into the Refinement Path Grand Formation.
The Observing Heaven Tower stood at the heart of the formation. They had to fight their way to the very top and seize the Fate Gu.
"They've sent people into the formation!" Old Man Zheng Yuan spotted it from afar, his face filled with worry.
Purple Violet Fairy, however, was not particularly alarmed. "This Refinement Path Grand Formation was specially arranged by us — it's not the same as the previous Refinement Furnace Grand Formation. And it's not just Yuan Qiongdu inside; two other Eighth Transformation cultivators are assisting him in the refinement."
Although the Refinement Furnace Grand Formation had been highly effective for repairing the Fate Gu, Heavenly Court had decisively abandoned it because it was modeled after the Refinement Furnace of the Langya Blessed Land.
After all, Eternal Life had already absorbed the Langya Sect, meaning the construction methods of the Refinement Furnace Immortal Gu House were inevitably in Eternal Life's possession.
Within the Refinement Path Grand Formation, Yuan Qiongdu served as the primary operator, unable to step away as he had to maintain it at all times. But the two Eighth Transformation cultivators assisting him could temporarily abandon their tasks to serve as his protectors.
Thoughts flashed rapidly through Purple Violet Fairy's mind. "Since Eternal Life has sent others to breach the formation, it means they intend to seize the Fate Gu rather than destroy it — which means they have reservations. The only ones capable of destroying the Fate Gu are Otherworldly Demons, and Fang Yuan is still on the Emperor City battlefield. We still have time."
With this thought, Purple Violet Fairy did not rush to join the battle herself. Instead, she first ensured Old Man Zheng Yuan was properly situated.
Old Man Zheng Yuan possessed only Seventh Transformation cultivation and had no right to participate in the battle personally. But his role was absolutely critical — he was the key to activating the various Human Path measures left behind by Immortal Venerable Primordial!
Once Old Man Zheng Yuan was safely positioned, Purple Violet Fairy immediately returned to the battlefield.
The Calamity Fate Altar hovered in midair, looming over the Refinement Path Grand Formation and blocking its entrance.
Within the formation's inner space, Niu Mo and Five Elements Grandmaster had already begun trading blows with Heavenly Court's two Eighth Transformation cultivators.
Purple Violet Fairy let out a low shout, and countless thoughts rained down upon the Calamity Fate Altar like a violent tempest.
This was an Immortal Path killer move of extraordinary power. Amplified by the Star Constellation Chessboard, even the Calamity Fate Altar dared not treat it lightly.
Bing Saichuan simultaneously healed his injuries while controlling the Calamity Fate Altar, countering Purple Violet Fairy's assault.
Purple Violet Fairy commanded the Star Constellation Chessboard, which was likewise an Eighth Transformation Immortal Gu House. The Calamity Fate Altar had been created by Immortal Venerable Giant Sun, while the Star Constellation Chessboard was the creation of Immortal Venerable Star Constellation.