How many combat systems did Fang Yuan possess?
Based on Dragon Lord's observations so far, only two of Fang Yuan's combat systems were truly mature.
One was the Time Path system, and the other was the Sword Path system.
The Time Path system was the most comprehensive, encompassing moves like Three Breath Late Appearance, Year Beast Summoning, Ten Thousand Year Fighting Chariot, Spring Scissors Summer Fan Autumn Bristle Winter Fur, and Spring Plowing Summer Weeding Autumn Harvest Winter Storing, covering both combat and resource management. It held two trump cards: one was the Time Cutting move paired with the Time Blade, and the other was the Spring Autumn Cicada as its core — the Spring Autumn Certainty!
The Sword Path system featured moves such as Ancient Sword Dragon Transformation, Triple Sword Tide, Gold Thread Sword, Dark Gap Kill, Ten Thousand Thought Sword Cascade, and Swordsman. Its trump card was the Five Finger Fist Heart Sword. This system excelled at offense — in raw offensive power, it surpassed even the Time Path system, especially after Fang Yuan had refined the Five Finger Fist Heart Sword. However, it fell short in every other regard. Movement, healing, and other aspects were all overshadowed by Dragon Lord's own system. These shortcomings formed critical vulnerabilities. Against an opponent like Dragon Lord, whose combat experience was staggeringly vast, these weaknesses became exploitable flaws that dragged down the entire offensive effectiveness of the Sword Path system.
Beyond these two systems, Fang Yuan also possessed numerous moves within the Qi Path, though in Dragon Lord's view, none of them formed a complete system. The Boundless Qi Sea was obviously a trump card — powerful enough to break through the Primeval Qi Wall — but after using it once, Fang Yuan had never employed it again, and the chances of him using it a second time seemed slim.
As for the Soul Path, Dragon Lord knew Fang Yuan must have an extensive repertoire, and his trump card was undoubtedly the Fallen Soul Mark. But Heavenly Court and Dragon Lord himself had long since made thorough preparations in this area. The fact that Fang Yuan had not used a single Soul Path move since the battle began was a wise decision.
Beyond all these, the Reverse Flow Protective Mark belonged to the Law Path, Ten Thousand Selves belonged to the Human Path, the Giant Handprint of Strength belonged to the Strength Path, Familiar Face Upon Meeting belonged to the Transformation Path, while Soul Guiding into Dreams, Pure Dream Seeking True Form, and Dream Soul Exchange were Dream Path moves. Although these techniques were formidable, they were all independent, one-dimensional — like scattered large pearls. A mature combat system, by contrast, was a pearl necklace: individual moves complementing one another, linked together like small pearls strung on a thread. In terms of overall value, the latter was actually superior.
Against the vast majority of Gu Immortals in the world, Fang Yuan could rely on these large pearls to shift the tide of battle and secure victory. But before Dragon Lord, Fang Yuan's systemic disadvantages would inevitably be laid bare.
"Fang Yuan, what you still lack is time. I trust you've long since realized this — but alas, a mature system requires at least several hundred years of accumulation!" Dragon Lord gazed down at Fang Yuan, his eyes sharp as blades. "Even if you use all manner of ancient inheritances to accelerate the process, it still cannot become purely perfect."
He activated the Revolving Dragon Fang move, launching distant attacks at Fang Yuan, all of which were blocked by the Reverse Flow Protective Mark.
But Dragon Lord was not discouraged. Though the Reverse Flow Protective Mark was extremely powerful, it lacked a mature system to support it and compensate for its shortcomings. Its greatest flaw was that it consumed Reverse Flow River water. Despite Fang Yuan's best efforts at conservation since his rebirth, how could it endure such violent expenditure?
The Reverse Flow Protective Mark was an Immortal Gu move that used the Reverse Flow River as its core. Its defensive power was nothing short of astonishing, capable of reflecting nearly all incoming attacks. This move had been created by Fang Yuan himself, a testament to his monstrous talent. Unfortunately, however, Fang Yuan lacked a stable combat system built around this trump card. For instance, preemptive strikes to reduce incoming attacks through supplementary defensive moves, or moves that amplified the power of the reflected attacks, or even methods to heal the Reverse Flow River itself.
To draw an imperfect analogy: the Reverse Flow Protective Mark was like a fish of unparalleled flavor. Though delicious eaten raw, if paired with salt, it could be preserved as dried salted fish for long-term storage. If paired with sugar, ginger, scallions, garlic, or other complementary ingredients, it could be transformed into all manner of exquisite dishes — far more rewarding and nuanced.
Compared to Heavenly Court, measured against Dragon Lord, Fang Yuan's accumulation was simply far too insufficient.
He was inevitably falling into a predicament.
Dragon Lord launched attack after attack, pressing through the Reverse Flow Protective Mark's backlash to forcibly erode the Reverse Flow River's reserves. His healing techniques were equally remarkable.
And Feng Jiu Ge's Song of Fate continued to envelop Fang Yuan at all times. The song fluctuated in intensity, constantly provoking the Reverse Flow Protective Mark into counterattacks. The song's profundity actually exceeded that of the Reverse Flow Protective Mark — even with the Mark protecting him, Fang Yuan was still weakened by the Song of Fate, though the degree of weakening was significantly reduced.
What made things worse was that the Song of Fate not only weakened Fang Yuan but also empowered Dragon Lord. Dragon Lord's combat power soared, growing stronger with every exchange, his roars echoing through the sky as he held complete dominance. His attacks surged like catastrophic tidal waves, overwhelmingly fierce!
Fang Yuan dispelled the Ancient Sword Dragon Transformation, reverting to his human form. The Sword Dragon's massive body meant the Reverse Flow Protective Mark had to cover a far greater surface area, attracting more attacks and depleting faster — it was less stable than his human form.
Using Pure Dream Seeking True Bodies, Fang Yuan launched continuous counterattacks.
But soon, these Pure Dream Seeking True Bodies were also specifically targeted, shattering and self-destructing one by one into dreamscapes. The dreamscapes then transformed into new Pure Dream Seeking True Bodies — fighting for Heavenly Court.
It was Feng Jinhuang making her move!
Through the Central Heaven Gate, Purple Star Fairy had not only retrieved Feng Jiu Ge but naturally also Feng Jinhuang. With her present, Fang Yuan's Dream Path moves would be severely suppressed.
Sure enough, all of Fang Yuan's current Dream Path moves were being countered.
"Feng Jinhuang!" Fang Yuan frowned inwardly. "In my previous life, it was she who, aided by an Immortal Gu Formation, executed an Immortal-level Dream Path move and ruined my plans. Now in Heavenly Court, is she using an Immortal Gu Formation or an Immortal Gu House to target me?"
Fang Yuan desperately wanted to locate her exact position and strike at Feng Jinhuang, but at this moment he had no freedom of movement.
He couldn't even approach the Heaven Monitoring Tower, and the distance was growing ever greater.
Because the ones fighting him were Dragon Lord and Feng Jiu Ge!
The old and new Protecting Destiny Immortals had joined hands at this critical moment!
As for Fang Zheng and Qin Dingling inside the Demon Slaying Rankings, they could no longer intervene and had turned their attention to the year beasts and swordsmen running rampant across the sky.
Heavenly Court's main force was steadily returning through the Central Heaven Gate from the Maojiao Mountain battlefield, joining the cleanup operation.
The year beasts and swordsmen were no match for them, falling in defeat one after another.
The Calamity Fate Altar was the primary target of Heavenly Court's main force, and some had even flown back into the Heaven Monitoring Tower. Qi Ci Lang, limited in mobility, was in an extremely dangerous position.
"Not good! Heavenly Court's main force has withdrawn back — doesn't that mean the Invincible Blessed Land has lost its purpose? With enough Success Dao Marks now in Heavenly Court's possession, the complete restoration of Destiny is only a matter of moments!" Fang Yuan's face was dark as still water. Bad news followed upon bad news, and the situation had become extraordinarily dire and perilous.