Fierce winds and savage waves churned across the River of Time.
The Ten-Thousand-Year Battle Flying Chariot ceaselessly launched Dawn Flying Swords like a torrential downpour, the barrage hammering the Three Autumn Yellow Crane Platform without letup.
Inside the Three Autumn Yellow Crane Platform, numerous Central Continent Gu Immortals steeled themselves for death and said to Gu Liuru: "My Lord, please withdraw first!"
Gu Liuru's expression wavered.
The others pressed on: "Central Continent can survive without the likes of us, but it cannot survive without you. The battle has grown far too perilous — even a full retreat risks leaving us all in that demon's clutches. Besides, the Heavenly Court has relayed explicit orders!"
Purple Violet Fairy had already given her command: the Three Autumn Yellow Crane Platform was to fight to the death to hold back the Ten-Thousand-Year Battle Flying Chariot while Gu Liuru withdrew first.
Gu Liuru let out a long sigh. "I never imagined matters would come to this. Everyone — your sacrifices shall not be in vain!"
He leaped from the Three Autumn Yellow Crane Platform, plunged directly into the River of Time, and fled at tremendous speed.
Aboard the Ten-Thousand-Year Battle Flying Chariot, Fang Yuan immediately sensed the escape and wheeled the chariot around. But the Three Autumn Yellow Crane Platform threw itself forward with total disregard for its own destruction, blocking him to the death.
Fang Yuan was ensnared by the platform and could not break free quickly. All he could do was watch as Gu Liuru followed a branch of the River of Time back into the Five Regions and Two Heavens.
"Very well, then — all of you die!" Fang Yuan snorted coldly and concentrated his firepower on the Three Autumn Yellow Crane Platform.
By this point, the platform was already a spent force. Under the savage, relentless ramming of the Ten-Thousand-Year Battle Flying Chariot, it shattered with a thunderous crash and was utterly reduced to fragments.
Over a dozen Gu Immortals tumbled into the river in disarray. The surrounding Year Beasts, blood-mad, swarmed in and descended upon them.
"Scram, you beasts!" Fang Yuan bellowed, commanding the Ten-Thousand-Year Battle Flying Chariot to seize these war spoils.
But there were simply too many Year Beasts. Wave after wave of the beast tide crashed savagely against the Ten-Thousand-Year Battle Flying Chariot.
In that brief delay, many Central Continent Gu Immortals had already been swallowed by the frenzied Year Beasts — not even a scrap remaining.
BOOM!
An enormous Ancient Year Ox hurtled down like a meteor, slamming into the side of the Ten-Thousand-Year Battle Flying Chariot with devastating force.
The chariot nearly capsized. After struggling free, an entire section of its hull had been completely deformed, riddled with two gaping holes.
Punched clean through by the ox's horns!
Fang Yuan's subordinates fell into chaos.
"Hurry, repair it!"
"Many of the Gu Insects have been destroyed!"
"That Ancient Year Ox is no ordinary beast — its power is extraordinary!"
Fang Yuan turned his gaze and studied it carefully.
Year Beasts surrounded them on every side — those that flew, those that ran along the river's surface, those that swam beneath — all treating the Ten-Thousand-Year Battle Flying Chariot as their prey.
In that moment alone, eight Ancient Year Beasts, near and far, had encircled Fang Yuan.
The Ancient Year Ox that had just struck had sleek fur the color of gold, its four hooves treading upon the river's surface without sinking, steady as a mountain. Even the chaotic horde of Year Beasts could not budge it!
A gleam of sharp light flickered through Fang Yuan's eyes.
The Twelve Zodiac Battle Formation still lacked an Ancient Year Ox.
And even had he possessed one before, Fang Yuan would have wanted to replace it.
The power of an ancient battle formation was directly tied to the strength of the Ancient Year Beasts that composed it — and this Ancient Year Ox was unquestionably one of the finest among them.
"But now is not the time to subdue it." Fang Yuan smiled bitterly and immediately issued the order. "Withdraw!"
The Ten-Thousand-Year Battle Flying Chariot began its desperate flight.
But no matter where it surged, Year Beasts blocked its path.
Woof! Woof! Woof!
An Ancient Year Dog latched onto them.
It was sleek and muscular, its canine eyes crackling with electricity. Its fur was likewise a brilliant gold, lustrous and magnificent.
The Dawn Flying Swords continuously launched by the Ten-Thousand-Year Battle Flying Chariot struck its body and immediately shattered, only trimming its fur.
Woof!
The Ancient Year Dog lunged forward in a sudden burst of speed, closing on the chariot's bow. Its jaws gaped wide, revealing rows of silver teeth as sharp as blades and spears.
With a sickening crack, it bit clean through the chariot's pointed prow.
"Move! That dog carries a Time Path wild Immortal Gu!" Fang Yuan's face turned to ice.
The Ancient Year Dog was another beast he lacked, but in this chaos, he had no desire to fight an opponent of unknown strength.
Fortunately, competition existed even among the Year Beasts.
There was only one Ancient Year Dog, but the Ancient Year Monkeys numbered the most.
Fang Yuan deftly changed course, steering directly toward the Ancient Year Monkeys. The Ten-Thousand-Year Battle Flying Chariot became a silver bolt of lightning, weaving and darting through the gaps between the beasts.
The Ancient Year Dog was intercepted by the Ancient Year Monkeys.
Fleeing all the while, the chariot finally reached the mouth of a tributary of the River of Time.
The Ten-Thousand-Year Battle Flying Chariot struggled through and burst from the tributary, returning to the Five Regions and Two Heavens.
An enormous number of Year Beasts pursued relentlessly.
Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!
A diminutive Ancient Year Rat suddenly appeared like a golden bolt of lightning and pierced straight into the Ten-Thousand-Year Battle Flying Chariot.