The bizarre change unfolded right before the eyes of all the immortals.
Shen Congsheng approached the mysterious demonic immortal, his face brimming with excitement.
"Finally, I've finally found you, Ancestor Shen Shang!" Shen Congsheng called out in a trembling voice.
His true purpose in coming here had always been to rescue his ancestor, Shen Shang.
Shen Shang was the most outstanding Gu Immortal of the Shen Clan. His talent and aptitude had been universally acknowledged even during his lifetime. When he was still merely a Sixth Transformation Gu Immortal, an Eighth Transformation powerhouse of the Wisdom Path had once remarked that he was "the foremost Eastern immortal of his century, his talent worth half a Venerable." The meaning was clear — given a few hundred years, once Shen Shang achieved Eighth Transformation, he would surely become the foremost Gu Immortal of the Eastern Sea. His talent was extraordinary, rivaling half the worth of a Venerable.
However, Shen Shang's relentless pursuit of power gradually led him to fall into the Demonic Path, committing one transgression after another.
The clan cherished his abilities and, though they punished him, always handled him with kid gloves — even covering for him on occasion.
Shen Shang repeated his offenses without amendment, growing ever more reckless. Outwardly he remained a Righteous Path Gu Immortal, but inwardly he was a demonic madman.
The Eastern Sea Gu Immortal community was kept in the dark, deceived by both Shen Shang and the Shen Clan. But they could not deceive Recluse Land Venerable.
Recluse Land Venerable took action and suppressed him, but did not publicly reveal his true identity.
The Shen Clan did not dare publicize the matter either, and simply announced that Shen Shang had perished while undergoing a tribulation.
After Shen Congsheng captured Fang Zheng, Heavenly Court took the initiative to contact him, providing information about Shen Shang in exchange for Fang Zheng's release.
Through this, Shen Congsheng learned that Shen Shang was still alive — sealed within the Blue Whale Paradise.
In order to enter the Blue Whale Paradise, Shen Congsheng secretly mobilized the full strength of the Shen Clan, conducting covert investigations and searches.
It just so happened that at that time, Ren Xiuping's underhanded attack against Miao Mingshen's group had leaked traces of the Azure Dragon Whale.
The Shen Clan obtained this intelligence, and Shen Congsheng personally mobilized, coercing Ren Xiuping into submission and learning that Miao Mingshen could locate the Azure Dragon Whale's precise position.
Miao Mingshen assembled a group of eight immortals and set out to explore the Azure Dragon Whale's paradise for the true inheritance. Shen Congsheng and Ren Xiuping had already gotten wind of this and secretly followed along.
That was how the subsequent chain of events unfolded.
Once inside the Blue Whale Paradise, Shen Congsheng had searched in every way he could for Shen Shang's location. After several missions, the clue to the Wailing Sorrow Sea was discovered by Shen Clan Gu Immortal Shen Qi.
Shen Congsheng speculated that the demonic immortal within the Wailing Sorrow Sea was most likely Shen Shang!
However, his secret rejoicing was short-lived, for he received a devastating piece of news.
Chu Ying had accepted the mission and was about to execute Shen Shang!
This gave Shen Congsheng a terrible fright. He immediately contacted Fang Yuan, falsely claiming he was searching for the Echo Insect, and sent large quantities of immortal materials as a gesture of sincerity.
Fang Yuan thus brought Shen Congsheng along to the Wailing Sorrow Sea as well.
Shen Congsheng lurked in the shadows, holding himself back, waiting until the final moment before striking decisively and rescuing Shen Shang in one fell swoop.
This shocking turn of events left everyone besides the Shen Clan Gu Immortals utterly stunned.
In the next instant, Miao Mingshen and the others turned grave as stone, their hearts sinking to the bottom of their chests.
Shen Congsheng was already an Eighth Transformation Gu Immortal, and now a second had joined the fray — Shen Shang. Shen Shang was also at the Eighth Transformation level, and in his day had been formidable enough to provoke Recluse Land Venerable into personally suppressing him. His combat prowess was undoubtedly extraordinary, far beyond the ordinary.
With Shen Shang, the Shen Clan's strength had skyrocketed. Not only did this tip the balance of power within the Blue Whale Paradise — even in the context of the entire Eastern Sea, it was a seismic shift.
Among the current Righteous Path of the Eastern Sea, the Shen Clan had become the sole superpower to possess two Eighth Transformation Gu Immortals simultaneously!
The Shen Clan had instantly become the most powerful force in the Eastern Sea.
The implications were enormous, bringing immeasurable benefits to the Shen Clan.
It was no wonder that when Heavenly Court dangled this secret before him, Shen Congsheng had been so tempted — immediately releasing Fang Zheng and ignoring the hints from Fang Yuan, who had been posing as Ancestor Qi Hai, to hand Fang Zheng over to him instead.
"Are you a descendant of my Shen Clan?" Shen Shang hovered in midair, gazing at Shen Congsheng. A sharp light flashed through his eyes, and then he nodded. "Indeed, you are of my Shen Clan. What year is it now?"
Shen Shang's voice was hoarse — uglier than the cawing of crows.
He wore a gray robe, tattered and ruined. His complexion was deathly pale, his hair hung wild and unkempt, and his eyes burned red as blood. The aura of Peak Stage Eighth Transformation radiated from his entire body, overwhelmingly oppressive.
Shen Congsheng answered his question and told him that Recluse Land Venerable had long since passed away.
"So much time has already gone by." Shen Shang let out a long sigh. "Lord Recluse Land has departed at last… what a pity…"
His attitude toward Recluse Land Venerable was somewhat peculiar. Recluse Land Venerable had been the one to suppress him, yet he still respectfully addressed him as "Lord."
After his lamentation, Shen Shang cast his gaze downward at Fang Yuan and the other immortals on the sea surface below.
One sweeping glance was enough to take in the entire situation. He clasped his hands behind his back and smiled. "Good. It seems the Shen Clan has produced generation after generation of talent."
Then his gaze settled on Fang Yuan, and his tone grew as gentle as he could manage. "Young friend, my escape from captivity was made possible almost entirely thanks to you. You have rendered great service, and you have performed an immense favor for my Shen Clan. Would you be willing to join us as a Supreme Guest Elder?"
He was actually trying to recruit Fang Yuan.
And indeed, Fang Yuan was well worth recruiting.
His mastery of Formation Path alone was something the Shen Clan needed. And judging from his attainments in Formation Path and his apparent age, it was not impossible that he might one day break through to Grandmaster level in the discipline.
Shen Congsheng cupped his fists toward Fang Yuan and chimed in: "Immortal Friend Chu Ying, my earlier deception was truly born of necessity. Rescuing Ancestor Shen Shang is of paramount importance to my Shen Clan. I humbly ask for your understanding."
Fang Yuan nodded, his expression calm, with even a hint of a smile lingering at the corner of his lips. "Of course I understand. If our positions were reversed, I would do the same."
"But the Shen Clan wants to recruit me? Heh heh heh…" Fang Yuan laughed and shook his head.
Shen Congsheng's voice turned cold: "Immortal Friend Chu Ying, what is the meaning of this laugh?"
Fang Yuan raised an eyebrow. "What right does your Shen Clan have to recruit me? You are not worthy."
Shen Congsheng's eyes instantly turned to ice.
The Shen Clan was a superpower of the Eastern Sea, presiding over seven great sea regions, with hundreds upon hundreds of minor and medium sea regions under their dominion. Now they even had two Eighth Transformation Gu Immortals. With such strength, they were still not worthy of recruiting a mere wandering immortal?
"Hmph, Chu Ying, don't you dare get arrogant!"
"Our Shen Clan's offer to recruit you is born of Ancestor Shen Shang's magnanimous spirit."
"Don't flatter yourself!"
Shen Xiao, Shen Qi, and the others spoke up one after another, flying out of the auxiliary formation to rejoin Shen Shang and Shen Congsheng in midair.
The blood-red killing intent in Shen Shang's crimson eyes intensified. He stared at Fang Yuan, his voice frigid: "Chu Ying, was it? Allow me to remind you — you were all guided here by the Merit Stele, and thus bound by Recluse Land's restrictions, unable to freely attack one another. But I have been trapped here for countless ages and am under no such constraint from the Merit Stele. That means any one of you could fall under my strikes at any moment."
The faces of Miao Mingshen and the others changed drastically — their worst fear had come true!
What were they to do?
Just as they stood there at their wit's end, they suddenly heard Fang Yuan burst into loud laughter. Then they saw him casually curl a finger toward Shen Shang in midair — a gesture brimming with open provocation.
Miao Mingshen and the others stared, dumbfounded.