Just as the Righteous and Demonic Paths were locked in fierce battle around the super Gu formation at the Yitian Mountain ruins, another battle had finally drawn to a close.
The Jade Clear Dripping Wind Small Bamboo Tower stood completely unscathed, shimmering brilliantly as it hovered quietly in midair.
The Purple Blood Pioneer River Formation, which had once encompassed heaven and earth, was on the verge of collapse. The blood river had dissipated, leaving only scattered clumps of scarlet blood drifting aimlessly through the purple-black void.
Before the Jade Clear Dripping Wind Small Bamboo Tower, Seven Illusions Demon Immortal was trapped within a wind sphere, unable to escape, left with no choice but to surrender.
The battle was decided.
"Let me see your true face." Wu Yong was still completely unscathed, a flash of green light flickering through his eyes before vanishing in an instant.
In that same moment, the multicolored radiance enveloping Seven Illusions Demon Immortal dissipated like clouds before the wind.
His true face was laid bare.
All three Righteous Path Immortal Gu Masters present were stunned.
Qiao Zhicai's eyes went wide as he blurted out: "Yao Geng?"
It turned out that Seven Illusions Demon Immortal was none other than Yao Geng — an Immortal Gu Master of the super force, the Yao Family.
He had originally been sparring with Wu Yirong over the legacy left behind by Jingyan Immortal. During their fifth round, he had suddenly died alongside Wu Yirong.
His Life Tablet Gu in the Yao Family had shattered, and everyone believed him dead.
But who would have thought that he was actually Seven Illusions Demon Immortal!
"Good, very good. So the Yao Family has been nothing more than a cesspool all along." Tie Mian Shen's voice was ice-cold.
Yao Geng smiled bitterly: "This was purely my own doing. It has nothing to do with my Yao Family."
Wu Yong saw that even unto death, Yao Geng was still trying to protect his family — he was not the deeply demonic figure one might have expected. Puzzled, Wu Yong asked: "What were you thinking, daring to set a trap against us?"
Yao Geng's bitter smile grew even more pained: "I already told you — I'm just a small fry. Or, to be more precise, merely a chess piece, moved about by others. I was forced into this as well. It has nothing to do with my family."
Wu Yong's expression darkened: "Then tell me — was the one pulling your strings that Eighth Transformation Immortal Gu Master who appeared earlier? Tell me everything you know about him."
Yao Geng burst into loud laughter, yet tears rolled down his cheeks: "If I told you that I, too, know almost nothing about that person — that my time in contact with him was barely longer than yours — would you believe me?"
Tie Mian Shen interjected: "Was it because of the Seven Illusions True Inheritance?"
Yao Geng nodded, his expression one of grief and misery.
Tie Mian Shen sighed: "To receive the Seven Illusions True Inheritance, one must first accept an Information Path covenant. Our clan analyzed it and concluded it was a trap. And yet, puzzlingly, many of the inheritance's successors never once fulfilled that Information Path covenant throughout their entire lives. It seems you were the first victim."
Hearing this, Wu Yong and Qiao Zhicai immediately understood. The gazes they turned upon Yao Geng now carried a hint of pity.
"There's nothing more to say at this point. The victor claims all. Kill me or torture me — do as you wish." Yao Geng slumped weakly, his fighting spirit entirely crushed.
"Where is that Eighth Transformation Immortal Gu Master?" Wu Yong pressed, a growing sense of unease stirring within him.
Yao Geng held nothing back: "I was the same as you — I assumed he was hidden somewhere within the formation. But only when you discovered the crucial formation eye, and even captured me, did I realize that he had long since left this place."
Hearing this, Wu Yong's dread only deepened.
With a sharp shout, he sealed Yao Geng and locked him away inside the Small Bamboo Tower, then activated the Immortal Gu House, unleashing its terrifying offensive power.
BOOM!
The Purple Blood Pioneer River Formation shattered under Wu Yong's assault, revealing blue skies and white clouds.
The three Immortal Gu Masters saw daylight once more. In that instant, before joy had even surfaced on their faces, each of their bodies trembled slightly.
"Oh no — so much time has passed!"
"This Purple Blood Pioneer River Formation didn't just contain the mysteries of the Wisdom, Blood, Illusion, and Information Paths — it also incorporated Time Path methods."
Within this Gu formation, the three Immortal Gu Masters' perception of time had been secretly manipulated, creating a false impression.
Even Wu Yong had fallen for this hidden trap.
He had firmly believed that his time inside the Purple Blood Pioneer River Formation had not been long.
But only after breaking through the formation did he realize, to his shock, that so many days had already passed.
"That's not good! It seems that Eighth Transformation Immortal Gu Master never intended to fight us to the death — he simply wanted to keep us trapped. What could his true objective be?" Wu Yong's heart sank as he hastily contacted his family.
The Purple Blood Pioneer River Formation had isolated the inside from the outside, preventing Wu Yong and the others from even communicating through the Yellow Treasure Heaven, let alone reaching their families.
At that moment, all three Immortals frantically reached out to their respective families. Soon, their expressions all underwent dramatic changes.
A flood of information surged into their minds, and all three were left stunned — never having expected that so many things had happened over these past few days!
The Wu Family, Yang Family, Qiao Family, Chi Family, Chai Family, Xia Family, Ba Family, and other Immortal Gu Masters were all caught in the chaos.
Purple Mountain True Monarch's plan had been to trap Wu Yong and the others, create the illusion of Wu Yong's death, and trigger political turmoil across the Southern Border.
He had succeeded.
The Yang Family, Qiao Family, Wu Family, and various other great families had each risen to stir up storms in pursuit of their own interests.
And just as they had become entangled with one another, vying for dominance, a massive force suddenly materialized at the super Gu formation and launched a devastating assault.
Upon receiving the avalanche of distress letters, every family was thrown into disarray.
"How could this be?"
"What kind of courage did those Demonic Path Immortal Gu Masters find to dare assault the super Gu formation head-on?"
"Not only that — Immortal Gu Masters from the Northern Plains have appeared as well."