Duke Long had been struck by the Steal Life killer move!
But Fang Yuan's expression only darkened, because Duke Long was completely unaffected.
Previously, when Fang Yuan had ambushed Thunder Ghost True Monarch in the Langya blessed land, the Steal Life effect had been immediate. In his previous life, when the Langya Earth Spirit had used the Steal Life Immortal Gu, it had gravely injured Purple Violet Fairy, Chen Yi, and Phoenix Nine Songs while killing Thunder Ghost True Monarch.
Yet this time, the Steal Life killer move that Fang Yuan had placed such high hopes on had proven useless against Duke Long. This was truly beyond his expectations.
However, he quickly recovered, his expression composed: "This was indeed a gift from Fang Yuan, but it seems to be useless against you. Why is that?"
Duke Long smiled faintly: "I once activated the killer move Dragon Sovereign Noble Guest, causing my own lifespan to continuously diminish, which in turn made my strength ever increase. This is like a Gu Immortal who has overused other life-extending methods — using a Life Gu afterward would have no effect. The Dragon Sovereign Noble Guest killer move also rendered all other life-extension methods completely futile."
"As for the Steal Life killer move, it merely influences the corresponding Dao Marks that represent lifespan. That is likely the reason it failed."
"So that's how it is." Fang Yuan nodded, then suddenly broke into a smile. "Such little tricks may not work against you, Duke Long, but they should still be quite effective against the other Immortals of Heavenly Court. I'll keep it for future use."
Duke Long's expression immediately darkened — this was precisely what he had been worried about.
Though the Steal Life killer move was ineffective against him, it remained a threat to the majority of Heavenly Court's members.
The situation was that Fang Yuan's ambush of Duke Long had failed due to the unexpected interference of Shen Congsheng and Song Qiyuan. Duke Long understood clearly: this was likely the work of Qin Dingling's fortune-shifting for him, combined with Fang Zheng's guidance.
However, for Duke Long to destroy the Steal Life killer move and the Immortal Gu was also exceedingly difficult.
Because he had clashed with Fang Yuan multiple times and knew full well: this Sea Qi Ancestor possessed extraordinary strength and absolutely should not be treated as an ordinary peak Eighth Transformation Gu Immortal. Defeating him was possible, but killing him in a single encounter would be extremely difficult.
There was no time to set up an Immortal battlefield to restrain the Sea Qi Ancestor. Furthermore, at the edge of the battlefield stood two Eastern Sea Eighth Transformation cultivators.
Therefore, after being hit by the Steal Life killer move, Duke Long did not attack again.
He addressed Fang Yuan amicably: "Sea Qi Ancestor, we have come to know each other through battle. You cannot do anything to me, and I for the moment cannot do anything to you. In truth, why must we fight each other to the death?"
Fang Yuan's heart stirred: "Oh? Duke Long wants to cease hostilities?"
His Wisdom Path attainment was profound. After a moment's thought, he understood Duke Long's thinking and felt a secret admiration.
"This Duke Long walked into my ambush and took a beating for most of the earlier exchange. Yet someone of his seniority, his strength, his high status and great authority — and still he harbors not a shred of arrogance. His mind remains clear, focused on the bigger picture. The moment he realizes a truce would be more advantageous, he stops fighting immediately. This temperament is truly terrifying."
While thinking this, Fang Yuan spoke: "Hmph, wasn't it Heavenly Court that provoked me without cause? This old man seeks nothing from the world, devoting himself solely to secluded cultivation. Yet your Heavenly Court harbors wolfish ambition, seeking to swallow the Five Regions and unify the world. Someone like me naturally became your greatest obstacle, leading you first to use schemes and plots against me, and then to rally a host of Eighth Transformation cultivators in a concerted siege."
Duke Long felt a pang of frustration upon hearing this.
He felt it was deeply unfair, because Heavenly Court had done no such thing in the past or present. This was his very first encounter with the Sea Qi Ancestor!
Yet he had no way to refute the claim.
Because it was entirely possible that in the future, Heavenly Court would indeed do exactly that.
"Let us set aside whether or not this matter was fabricated by Fang Yuan," Duke Long said, nodding. "Even if it were true, it would be a matter of the past life — downstream in the River of Time, something that has not yet occurred at this moment. Since we both already know about it, why can we not change it?"
Fang Yuan let out a mocking laugh: "Ha! Did I hear you correctly? Hasn't Heavenly Court always proclaimed itself the Righteous Path, upholding Heavenly Will, doing everything in its power to restore Fate? And now you want to change the future — is that not precisely altering the trajectory of Fate?"
Fang Yuan played dumb, a thoroughly cunning move.
Duke Long smiled: "Heavenly Court does indeed uphold the Heavenly Dao and restore Fate. But this is the Heavenly Dao in which humanity prospers, and this Fate is the Fate Gu that protects the human race. Sea Qi Ancestor, between you and me there is no fundamental contradiction. We can absolutely coexist peacefully. I represent Heavenly Court, and I can form an alliance with you — a non-aggression pact!"
Duke Long's tone was solemn, brimming with sincerity.
At the edge of the battlefield, the two Eastern Sea Eighth Transformation Gu Masters turned pale at his words.
Shen Congsheng secretly cried out in alarm, and Song Qiyuan's face looked equally grim.
Originally, they had been delighted to find that the Eastern Sea possessed someone like the Sea Qi Ancestor — a figure who could face Duke Long in single combat without being at a disadvantage.
Among the Five Regions, the Eastern Sea was the richest in resources, but its Gu Masters were far from united, and their combat strength varied wildly.
Recently, the earth veins had been shifting frequently, forming entirely new chasms. The barriers between the Five Regions were steadily eroding, and the merging of the Five Regions into one was no longer a secret.
Once the Five Regions truly united, the other four regions would all face the formidable threat of the Central Continent.