Above Central Continent, the vast Star Calculation Formation was taking shape across the sky.
Countless Central Continent Gu Immortals shuttled through it.
"Alliance of One Heart and Universal Love..." Little Calculator muttered to himself as he set up the formation, clearly lost in thought.
"Fairy Bai Qing, do you think we could join the Alliance of One Heart and Universal Love?" Nearby, Fairy Consort Colorful Butterfly Han Caixin sent a transmission.
Fairy Bai Qing wore a white long dress with a green jade sash at her waist. She smiled at the question. "Caixin, are you tempted?"
"How could I not be? A full twenty percent discount, and no restrictions whatsoever on coming and going. Such a tremendous bargain — if I weren't from Spirit Butterfly Valley, I'd have joined long ago. Are you not tempted either, sister?" Han Caixin said.
Around Han Caixin, colorful butterflies fluttered about, placing countless Gu into their designated positions.
Fairy Bai Qing fell into contemplation.
Though she was a Gu Immortal of Spirit Connection Studio, she and Han Caixin had a close relationship with similar temperaments, and they had always addressed each other as sisters in private.
She understood Han Caixin's intention in asking. After all, Fairy Bai Qing's daughter was Feng Jinhuang, and she had closer ties to the Heavenly Court.
In the end, Fairy Bai Qing shook her head. "This matter — I can't make the call. Perhaps we should ask Immortal He Fengyang."
Before, Fairy Bai Qing might have offered her own opinion outright. But after the betrayals of Fairy Ziwei and Feng Jiuge, she had learned to choose her words carefully.
"Little Nine, get to work! Once this Star Path Immortal Gu is placed, we're pulling out immediately," He Fengyang secretly transmitted to Nine Palace Crane Little Nine from a distance.
He'd had enough!
Ever since Fang Yuan's latest proclamation, every Gu Immortal under heaven knew that joining the Alliance of One Heart and Universal Love came with enormous benefits — and complete freedom of movement, with no restrictions whatsoever.
He Fengyang had become the one everyone stared at and pressed for answers.
After all, He Fengyang had received Star Constellation Immortal Venerable's instructions and personally conducted a public transaction with Fang Yuan.
What the Heavenly Court members thought was one thing, but the Gu Immortals of Central Continent's Ten Great Ancient Sects were all tempted.
Who didn't lack Immortal Gu?
Especially now that the Five Regions were unified, the Boundary Walls had dissolved, Qi Tides swept across the world, and Earth Veins and Heaven Veins had merged and connected. All manner of immortal materials had become abundant — they were practically gushing forth. The earth path, qi path, and heavenly path materials were particularly plentiful.
Gu Immortals had more immortal materials than ever, and trades in Treasure Yellow Heaven had grown more frequent. Yet the Immortal Gu in their hands remained few.
Every field had its specialization. If you weren't a Refinement Path Gu Immortal but rather practiced some other path, the probability of successfully refining an Immortal Gu was far too low.
Across the entirety of the three-million-year history of humanity's rise to dominance, the story of Gu refinement had been one of blood and tears. Countless heroes and geniuses had sunk into the bitter abyss of refining Gu.
Only the brilliance of a handful of great Refinement Path powerhouses could not illuminate everyone.
Gu Immortals had been thoroughly brokenhearted by refining Gu, and yet they had no choice but to attempt it again and again.
Utter misery, and utter helplessness.
But now, a Refinement Path Venerable had appeared — and this Refinement Path Venerable was different from other Gu Immortals.
He was special.
He had established the Alliance of One Heart and Universal Love, openly traded in Treasure Yellow Heaven, and launched a business refining Immortal Gu!
Every Gu Immortal tormented by the struggle of refining Gu saw hope in this. They felt something called warmth.
The vast majority of Gu Immortals were tempted.
It didn't matter how hypocritical Fang Yuan's declarations of universal love might be — the benefits were right there before everyone's eyes.
But their identity as members of Central Continent's Ten Great Ancient Sects had become a constraint.
These Gu Immortals were all worried about the Heavenly Court's thoughts.
So they had all been probing He Fengyang for information.
Because He Fengyang was the first Central Continent Righteous Path Gu Immortal to conduct a public transaction with Fang Yuan — and according to rumors, he had received instructions from Star Constellation Immortal Venerable herself!
He Fengyang had indeed received Star Constellation Immortal Venerable's command, but how was he supposed to talk about that?
Some things could be tacitly allowed to happen, but could not be spoken of openly. Once placed on the table, the nature of things changed.
So He Fengyang could only be evasive.
The more evasive he was, the more the others pressed him for the truth.
For instance, right now, Fierce Thunder Villain had come to ask directly.
Fierce Thunder Villain had also reached Seventh Transformation, and he had been famous for a long time. Compared to him, He Fengyang had previously been a nobody — it was only through his transaction with Fang Yuan that he had gained renown across Central Continent and attracted widespread attention.
Facing Fierce Thunder Villain, He Fengyang naturally had to defer.
He Fengyang hedged and hinted repeatedly, but Fierce Thunder Villain wanted a clear answer.
He Fengyang was under tremendous pressure.
Just then, another Gu Immortal made inquiry.
It was Immortal Monkey King Shi Lei.
This powerhouse had long since achieved Seventh Transformation, and now rumors said he was pushing for Eighth Transformation.
When Feng Jiuge had still been part of the Central Continent Righteous Path, Immortal Monkey King Shi Lei had been the strongest after him.
"Brother He Fengyang, is it true or not? Give me a straight answer!" Shi Lei was blunt.
Now, He Fengyang felt even greater pressure.
Fairy Bai Qing and Fairy Consort Colorful Butterfly both sent transmissions asking the same thing.
"Ladies, I truly don't know either!" He Fengyang felt like his head had swollen another size.
"Brother He Fengyang, just ask and find out," Fierce Thunder Villain said.