The Eastern Sea.
Splash, splash, splash!
Turbulent waves crashed against the reef rocks of the small islet, exploding into countless sprays of white foam.
Howling winds shrieked across a grey, overcast sky.
This uninhabited island was utterly unremarkable amid the vast Eastern Sea, yet at this moment, four Gu Immortals were concealed upon it.
All four bore injuries. One lay upon the ground, his fate uncertain, while the remaining three sat cross-legged, frantically tending to their wounds.
After a brief moment, one of them suddenly erupted into violent coughing, spewing mouthful after mouthful of fresh blood.
"Sir!" The other two who still retained consciousness hastily halted their healing and gathered around him with concern.
The one coughing up blood was Miao Ming Shen.
This Gu Immortal specialized in the Space Path. With Seventh Transformation cultivation, he was extremely well-known among the independent cultivators of the Eastern Sea — his connections ran wide and his influence was considerable.
He was neither tall nor short, neither fat nor thin, with features that were above average yet fairly ordinary. Only his broad nostrils left a memorable impression.
In terms of appearance alone, there was nothing remarkable about him. Yet he harbored great ambition, excelled at putting others before himself, and could be said to possess considerable personal charisma. The three independent cultivators of the Eastern Sea — Butterfly Fairy, Bee General, and Ghost Seventh Master — all followed Miao Ming Shen's lead, the four forming a remarkably tight-knit group.
But now, their Ghost Seventh Master had fallen into a deep coma, his skin suffused with a sinister purple from the virulent poison, his condition critical in the extreme.
Miao Ming Shen wiped the blood from his lips, his face ashen, and forced out the words: "My injuries... cough, cough... are of no consequence! What matters is Old Ghost's condition."
"Indeed, Ghost Seventh Master was struck by the Ice Poison Sea Star's spine. This kind of virulent toxin is something we simply cannot cure." Butterfly Fairy's face was etched with worry.
Bee General's expression was cold as ice: "Though the Ice Poison Sea Star's toxic spine is devious, I have heard that Su Chen and September Fairy are both capable of treating it."
Miao Ming Shen shook his head and sighed: "September Fairy and Ren Xiu Ping have a secret relationship — something I learned long ago. Su Chen is currently attending the Qi Sea Grand Banquet, and we absolutely cannot go there and expose our identities and secrets. For Old Ghost's injuries, we can only rely on ourselves. I plan to trade the Space Time Extreme Root for Yan Huang Water. With that water, we can wash away the Ice Poison Sea Star's toxin."
"Sir..." Both Butterfly Fairy and Bee General were visibly moved.
Miao Ming Shen laughed aloud: "What is merely a piece of Eighth Transformation immortal material compared to saving Old Ghost's life? A bargain beyond compare. Come to think of it, we actually have that demon Fang Yuan to thank. Had he not defeated Heavenly Court so decisively this time, Heavenly Court would never have gone on such a frantic buying spree for Time Path immortal materials in Treasure Yellow Heaven."
Butterfly Fairy nodded and sighed: "Indeed. That demon Fang Yuan actually obtained a portion of the Red Lotus True Inheritance and can now control Stone Lotus Island. Heavenly Court took a devastating fall this time — their losses were absolutely catastrophic!"
Bee General said with some worry: "That demon Fang Yuan is far too cunning — Heavenly Court already had no way of dealing with him. Now that Fang Yuan has obtained the Red Lotus True Inheritance, his power has truly grown enormous. If left unchecked, Fang Yuan will only become more terrifying, posing a threat to the entire world."
Butterfly Fairy laughed: "Ah Feng, you're being far too paranoid. A figure like Fang Yuan operates at heights we could never hope to reach. The world is vast — what are the chances we'd ever cross paths with him? If the sky falls, those taller will hold it up. Heavenly Court will never let him off the hook; we just need to sit back and watch the show."
This time around, Fang Yuan had used Stone Lotus Island to thoroughly humiliate Heavenly Court, and naturally he would not let such a perfect opportunity slip by. Once again, he had posted images of Heavenly Court's crushing defeat in Treasure Yellow Heaven, allowing every Gu Immortal under heaven to witness them.
In this way, Fang Yuan's fame and prestige surged yet again, while Heavenly Court's reputation took another devastating blow.
That Butterfly Fairy, Bee General, and the others knew of all this was only natural.
What they did not know, however, was that years ago, Fang Yuan had disguised himself as Chu Ying and had already made contact with them, saving their lives — that Fang Yuan had been right beside them all along.
Miao Ming Shen let out a long, melancholic sigh.
He was a man of ambition, one who refused to settle for mediocrity.
Had it been otherwise, he would never have humbled himself to others, cultivated relationships with so many Gu Immortals, or united Bee General, Butterfly Fairy, and Ghost Seventh Master under his banner.
As an ambitious Gu Immortal, he harbored deeply complex feelings about Fang Yuan's rise to power.
Fang Yuan's ascent had been far too swift. In less than a hundred years, he had grown from a mortal Gu Master into a Seventh Transformation Gu Immortal.
And how long had it taken Miao Ming Shen himself? Centuries!
In that span of less than a hundred years, Miao Ming Shen had watched Fang Yuan's rise with his own eyes, as though witnessing a grand performance. But the protagonist of that performance was not him.
Although he considered himself Fang Yuan's equal in cultivation — both at the Seventh Transformation — Fang Yuan was already capable of commanding an Eighth Transformation Immortal Gu House, manipulating Stone Lotus Island, and striking vicious blows against Heavenly Court.
And himself?
Miao Ming Shen looked at himself — how utterly wretched he was!
Setting aside his own grievous injuries, Ghost Seventh Master was on the verge of death, and both Bee General and Butterfly Fairy were wounded as well. And the one responsible for all this — his nemesis Ren Xiu Ping — was surely scouring the outside world for them in a frenzy.
Truly, they were beset on all sides.
In that moment, Miao Ming Shen even began to doubt himself: had all his years of striving — humbling himself to build connections, rallying the three immortals at his side — been a mistake? If it had not been a mistake, then how had he ended up in such a wretched state?
He then turned his thoughts to the Qi Sea Ancestor. The Qi Sea Ancestor was hosting the Qi Sea Grand Banquet, inviting all the Gu Immortals of the Eastern Sea. The event was so renowned that Miao Ming Shen had long heard of it and had even considered attending. But now, ambushed by Ren Xiu Ping, he could only hide away — missing this golden opportunity for nothing.