The Ten Thousand Year Flying Warship hovered in the sky as Fang Yuan gazed at the grand formation before him, a smile forming on his face.
He had come to Yi Tian Mountain once again, and this time he would sweep up all the dream realms here in one go.
The timing couldn't have been more perfect.
On one hand, Wu Yong and the others were leading the Southern Alliance's many powerful experts to strike in Central Continent, leaving the Southern Border in its weakest state in all of history. On the other hand, the great battle in Central Continent had only just begun, and for Fang Yuan, this was likely the last period of leisure he would have.
"Unlike my previous life, in this life I've repeatedly seized the initiative and defeated Heavenly Court. The secret of my rebirth is now widely known, and Heavenly Court must have prepared countermeasures. Their methods and arrangements will certainly differ from my previous life. It's better to let the four regions' Gu Immortals take the vanguard and scout out the true situation for me."
Fang Yuan had always maintained a firm grasp of the overall situation.
At this point, the advantages of his rebirth were nearly exhausted. His memories of his past life held little reference value against an existence as powerful as Heavenly Court.
Heavenly Court would not be so foolish as to make no changes at all.
If Fang Yuan charged to the very front, he would likely become bogged down in the quagmire of war, unable to extricate himself. He might even perish as a result.
After all, Heavenly Court's true reserves were unfathomably deep, and Fang Yuan could not be certain that the methods of the Venerables he remembered constituted all of Heavenly Court's cards.
Immortal Killer Move — Refinement Rain Formation.
Light rain suddenly began falling from the sky, pattering down and swiftly seeping into the grand formation.
Of course, there were Gu Immortals guarding the formation within.
The Gu Immortals were thrown into panic.
The grand formation was unable to withstand it — its outer edges had already been refined by Fang Yuan and brought under his control.
Though this grand formation had been laid by Chi Quyou, Fang Yuan had secretly conducted dream realm transactions with Chi Quyou on multiple occasions, entering this place and gathering considerable intelligence.
Fang Yuan's attainment in the Formation Path, his achievements in the Wisdom Path, combined with the Refinement Rain Formation killer move, perfectly countered this grand formation.
"That demon Fang Yuan — instead of attacking Central Continent, he actually came back to the Southern Border!"
"What do we do?"
"Should we call for reinforcements?"
"Nearly all of our Eighth Transformation Gu Immortals were taken to Central Continent by Lord Wu Yong!"
"We still have to report this news to the lords!"
The Southern Border Gu Immortals exchanged words, but none dared leave the formation to face Fang Yuan in battle, and they couldn't reach anyone for reinforcements. They could only activate the Immortal Formation, cycling through its various transformations.
The Immortal Formation's constant changes immediately reduced Fang Yuan's efficiency in refining it.
But Fang Yuan was secretly pleased.
The formation's movements actually revealed more of its embedded mysteries. With the Wisdom Halo's assistance, penetrating these mysteries was as easy as turning his hand.
In Central Continent, the Southern Alliance Gu Immortals had already entered the Nine-Nine Chain Endless Formation.
Wu Yong and the others received this intelligence.
"What? The dream realms are under attack?"
"It's that villain Fang Yuan!"
"Does he have any sense of the bigger picture?! Attacking us at a time like this?!"
The Southern Alliance Gu Immortals seethed with resentment.
Wu Yong was silent for a moment before speaking: "He certainly does have a sense of the bigger picture."
"What do you mean, Lord Wu Yong?" Ba De's face was ashen. Fang Yuan's actions had severely harmed all the Righteous Path forces of the Southern Border!
Everyone knew the dream realms were of immense value. Moreover, their importance would only grow as the great era approached.
Wu Yong smiled instead: "If Fang Yuan lacked a sense of the bigger picture, he would have moved against the dream realms long ago. He wouldn't have waited until we struck in Central Continent. He may even have intended to use us as cannon fodder."
"Then aren't we just sacrificing ourselves for him?" someone said, reluctance thick in their voice.
"No." Wu Yong shook his head. "Once Fate Gu is fully restored, the threat it poses to us will be far greater than that of Fang Yuan, this outsider from beyond heaven. In his previous life, he probably came back after we similarly took the initiative like this. But there was no choice — we had to act. This is the true situation of the Five Regions."
"Everyone, before we set out, I already warned you that our homeland might come under attack. Whether it is your family, friends, or your foundations facing destruction and slaughter — right now, those are minor matters! If Heavenly Court obtains a complete Fate Gu, we will be at the mercy of others, with no future whatsoever!"
As Wu Yong spoke, his gaze was like lightning sweeping across the assembled immortals, his words ringing with conviction: "I am issuing the order for all Gu Immortals guarding the grand formation to withdraw immediately. Do not make needless sacrifices. I know this order is risky, but even if Fang Yuan destroys the Wu family's stronghold, I will not retreat a single step from here!"
Wu Yong's determination sent a chill through the hearts of all present.
United in purpose, the Southern Alliance Gu Immortals once again formed into a single fist, charging deep into the Nine-Nine Chain Endless Formation.
Wu Yong's order reached the Southern Border, and the Gu Immortals guarding the formation all felt a wave of relief. They took every Immortal Gu they could carry and began to withdraw swiftly.
Moments later, Fang Yuan refined the now-empty shell of the grand formation, not a single Southern Border Gu Immortal in sight.
After he had completely dismantled the formation, he also obtained a message Gu Insect. Inside it was a letter that Wu Yong had specifically written to Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan swept it with his divine sense, and the contents became clear at a glance.
The letter contained only a few lines, expressing a single viewpoint — the threat of Heavenly Court and Fate, the might of Central Continent, and the insignificance of the four regions.
It did not mention a single word suggesting that Fang Yuan should stop.
"This Wu Yong..." Fang Yuan couldn't help but let out a sigh of admiration.