Wu Yong wanted to meet Fang Yuan in person.
If this were during the period right after the chase-and-kill battle, Wu Yong would never have dared to approach Fang Yuan at close range.
Fang Yuan was the foremost demon of the world. If Wu Yong recklessly made contact, he could very well be killed by Fang Yuan.
That would be incredibly dangerous!
But things were different now.
After Fang Yuan's series of diplomatic maneuvers — frequent large-scale trades with major factions, and a restraint in the use of force — the situation had shifted.
At first the results may have been negligible, but now, after everything that had transpired, every major super faction — including the Wu, Fang, and Chai families — had come to recognize the side of Fang Yuan that embodied order.
These super factions reassessed Fang Yuan one by one, and then began cooperating with him.
Achieving this was actually no easy feat.
Would a little white rabbit willingly do business with the big bad wolf?
"But this man before me actually pulled it off." Wu Yong looked at Fang Yuan, his feelings complicated.
He was a formidable figure of the present age, among the peak of Eighth Transformation Gu Immortals in both talent and ability. Fang Yuan's recent string of actions compelled even Wu Yong to quietly marvel, even to feel a trace of admiration.
To possess overwhelming power yet not flaunt it, not casually bully the weak — that in itself was no easy thing. On the surface, it appeared to be self-discipline and self-reflection, an understanding that those skilled in water are the ones who drown. But at its core, it was a lack of greed, a rationality untainted by desire.
Looking across the world — no, looking across the river of time throughout all of human history — how many people could truly manage that?
And Fang Yuan had even managed to make all manner of weak parties begin cooperating with him in good faith. At first it was only the Wu family, but as Wu Yong had now discovered, nearly every super faction in the Southern Border had struck deals with Fang Yuan, selling off certain mediocre Famous Mountains in exchange for the refinement of Eighth Transformation Immortal Gu.
That was no easy feat either.
This spoke volumes about Fang Yuan's extraordinary skill.
Whether through coercion, inducement, or any other method — the point was, he had achieved it.
"This Fang Yuan truly is remarkable! Although he comes from the Demonic Path, his actions and thinking have never been bound by such shallow factional labels."
"He can be righteous or evil, bring order or chaos — all are tools at his disposal. Looking across all of history, a demon of this caliber is perhaps the most fearsome of all."
"To share this same era with such a man is truly my, Wu Yong's, good fortune."
Wu Yong feared Fang Yuan. He had been disappointed by Fang Yuan, had hated and raged because of Fang Yuan. But he had also been invigorated by Fang Yuan — had even come to feel the beauty of life anew.
Because in Fang Yuan, he saw a reflection of himself. He witnessed his own nature.
He and Fang Yuan shared far too many commonalities.
Fang Yuan's string of recent actions had allowed Wu Yong to perceive the breadth of his vision, to glimpse the grand strategy of ten calculations for every step.
"If the hearts of men have already been changed by Fang Yuan, then why shouldn't I cooperate more closely with him?" This thought had taken root in Wu Yong's mind ever since his devastating loss of Hudi.
What do you do when you can't defeat your enemy?
You cooperate with your enemy and turn foe into friend!
Cooperating with Fang Yuan was entirely profitable — the benefits to the Wu family would be enormous.
Wu Yong did not lack patience, and he did possess a righteous path's sense of shame.
But a formidable man's shame was thinner than a sheet of paper. As long as the profit was sufficient, Wu Yong could tear that paper to shreds without a second thought.
And so, this time Wu Yong had come of his own volition, wanting to meet Fang Yuan face to face and speak with him, all to deepen the cooperation between the Wu family and Fang Yuan!
Looking at Wu Yong, a faint smile surfaced on Fang Yuan's face.
Wu Yong had once hunted him down. But so what?
If you can kill me, then that's your skill, Wu Yong! The world devours the weak — if I die at your hands, that is my weakness, my inadequacy, my failing!
The strong consuming the weak — isn't that simply the way of things?
And so, in Fang Yuan's heart, there had never existed such pointless hatred.
Wu Yong had appeared here of his own accord, with his intention to cooperate laid bare for all to see. Then cooperate they would!
For Fang Yuan, partnering with the Wu family was also unquestionably profitable.
Wu Yong was the Alliance Leader of the Southern Alliance, and the Wu family had long held the throne of the Southern Border's foremost power. Cooperating with the Wu family carried a exemplary effect.
Just like how Fang Yuan's recent trades of Famous Mountains with various factions had been able to open up the market — it was all built on the precedent of the Wu family's trading records.
But just as Fang Yuan was about to exchange pleasantries with Wu Yong, a Gu Immortal flew in from the edge of the sky.
This Gu Immortal was clad in grey hemp robes, wearing a bamboo hat on his head, with a body as sturdy as a bear's and a broad, thick chin — it was none other than Lu Weiyin.
The usually composed man was now displaying unmistakable agitation.
Upon spotting Fang Yuan, Lu Weiyin called out from a distance: "Lord Fang Yuan, I've finally found you!"
"Fellow Immortal Lu, what brings you here?" Fang Yuan smiled.
Lu Weiyin flew up to Fang Yuan, glanced at Wu Yong, and made no effort to greet him.
Wu Yong couldn't help but feel curious — he had never seen Lu Weiyin show such nervousness and impatience.
Lu Weiyin looked directly at Fang Yuan and said bluntly: "Lord Fang Yuan, do you know that yesterday, the City of God, carrying the Immortals of Heaven's Court, departed once more from the Central Continent, heading straight for the Demonic Den in the Northern Plains!"