"When it comes to combat experience, I cannot compare to the Spectral Soul Demon Venerable!" In the three-way melee, Fang Yuan clearly perceived the gap between himself and his foes. Although Fang Yuan had been reborn multiple times, when it came to overall combat depth, he naturally could not compare to a Venerable-level figure.
"But the main issue is that Qing Chou has lost all reason. Although its attacks are fierce and reckless, ignoring its own safety, most of them are being exploited by the Spectral Soul Demon Venerable. If Qing Chou were clear-headed and rational, the battle would not look like this."
Fang Yuan felt a twinge of regret. Although the Hatred Gu was continuously pushing toward the Ninth Transformation level and Qing Chou's combat power grew ever stronger, without wisdom, even the greatest strength would only be exploited by the Spectral Soul Demon Venerable.
Deploying both the Dragon Palace and the Ten Thousand Year Combat Flying Chariot, Fang Yuan still felt powerless. This was something that had never happened before.
Fang Yuan continued to focus on retreating, fighting while falling back.
Although he was at a disadvantage, as long as the Spectral Soul Demon Venerable could not trap him with a battlefield killer move, Fang Yuan remained free.
The Dragon Palace was the first to break through the Celestial Force Wall, descending toward Central Continent. The Ten Thousand Year Combat Flying Chariot did its utmost to provide cover.
The Spectral Soul Demon Venerable's figure trailed like a streak of black smoke, following close behind, impossible to shake off.
Last of all was Qing Chou's mountainous body, which smashed through the wall with a thunderous crash, leaving the Primordial Daytime and arriving in Central Continent.
Qi Sea Ancestor, Qin Dingling, and the others had been giving chase ever since leaving the Heavenly Court.
When they discovered that Fang Yuan and the others had descended into Central Continent, the immortals of the Heavenly Court grew somewhat agitated.
"That scoundrel Fang Yuan — he had the vast Primordial Daytime to flee through, yet he just had to descend into Central Continent! He's having a hard enough time already, and now he wants to drag innocent people down with him. He truly deserves to die ten thousand deaths!"
Qi Sea Ancestor also gave a cold snort. "Fang Yuan has been a scourge for far too long. If we can slay him this time, it will be a blessing for all living beings under heaven."
As he spoke, he secretly deployed his methods to tip off his true body, Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan understood immediately — the Heavenly Court's pursuers would catch up soon. But he had no choice; his speed had been severely hampered by the Spectral Soul Demon Venerable.
When the Heavenly Court's forces caught up, they found the Spectral Soul Demon Venerable overwhelmingly dominating both Fang Yuan and Qing Chou.
Qin Dingling frowned, hesitated for a brief moment, then said to Qi Sea Ancestor: "Ancestor, please strike at Fang Yuan first. We must use our full force to slay this beast."
How could Qi Sea Ancestor possibly attack his own body? He deliberated, then said uncertainly: "As things stand, Fang Yuan is weak while the Spectral Soul is strong. Both are Demonic Path colossi. If we go after Fang Yuan and suffer his death-throes counterattack, I fear the Spectral Soul will ultimately get what he wants."
Qin Dingling shook her head. "Ancestor, you still don't understand Fang Yuan well enough. He is far too cunning and treacherous — he must have some hidden trump card. For all we know, this current battle situation is merely a layer of deception on his part. We must kill him and not give him the slightest chance."
Qi Sea Ancestor: "..."
The Heavenly Court had suffered too many defeats at Fang Yuan's hands. Qin Dingling's hatred and wariness of Fang Yuan ran so deep that she had actually elevated him above the Spectral Soul Demon Venerable in priority!
But thinking about it more carefully, when the Spectral Soul Demon Venerable had been invincible throughout the world, the damage he had inflicted on the Heavenly Court was still absolutely nothing compared to what Fang Yuan had caused. Qin Dingling and the others' reasoning was thus easy to understand.
Qi Sea Ancestor had no choice but to secretly consult his true body — how should he play this next?
If it came to the worst, Qi Sea Ancestor would have to step forward and join the siege against the Spectral Soul Demon Venerable, helping Fang Yuan's true body escape.
But Fang Yuan replied: "Don't rush. Let me try something first."
The Dragon Palace gates suddenly cracked open, and a Pure Dream Seeker Body flew out from within.
The Pure Dream Seeker Body hurtled toward the Spectral Soul Demon Venerable. The latter's pupils contracted slightly, and he immediately retreated.
Bang. The Pure Dream Seeker Body detonated without warning, transforming into a massive mass of dream that drifted through midair, forming a temporary barrier.
The Dragon Palace and the Ten Thousand Year Combat Flying Chariot seized the opportunity to widen the distance.
The Spectral Soul Demon Venerable detoured around the dream and resumed his pursuit.
But Qing Chou, having lost all reason, plunged headlong into the dream.
Roar! The aura of the Hatred Gu on Qing Chou's body erupted violently, allowing it to shatter straight through the dream and charge forward.
"What?!"
"Qing Chou charged straight through the dream without getting trapped?"
"It's the Hatred Gu! The Record of Human Ancestor contains a vague description of this — Hatred has no dreams!"
Even Fang Yuan was startled by this sight.
Qing Chou clearly possessed no Dream Path abilities, yet it had broken free using nothing but the Hatred Gu. The Dream Path led the entire era — one could say it was a single technique that conquered all — and yet it could not suppress the Hatred Gu?
"Hatred has no dreams... or rather, facing a Ninth Transformation Hatred Gu, was the scale of that dream simply insufficient?" Thoughts flashed through Fang Yuan's mind like lightning.
Just like the Dream Smoke killer move — even if it struck the Spectral Soul Demon Venerable, it could only trap him temporarily before he broke free, dragging the Dragon Palace down with his escape.
The Dream Smoke killer move was still inferior in level to the Spectral Soul Demon Venerable. If it could be elevated to the Ninth Transformation degree, that would be an entirely different situation.