«Bai Ning Bing, what a Bai Ning Bing… Hehehe, I underestimated you, and I fell right into your hands. You won beautifully, and your schemes were incredibly precise. I was negligent, my mind set on the Immortal Gu, and I let you succeed. It is my fault!»
«I wouldn't dare. The reason I was able to scheme against you this time was also due to the favorable timing, geographical advantage, and harmonious human relations. If our positions were swapped, and I was the one who had to refine an Immortal Gu while plotting against a group of heroes, I definitely wouldn't have done as well as you,» Bai Ning Bing replied seriously. «But since things have come to this point, the winner is king and the loser is a villain. I advise you not to struggle in vain anymore.»
«Hehehe.» Fang Yuan let out a few cold laughs. «The reason you haven't killed me is simply that you want the Immortal Gu, to know its effects, and the secret recipe for the Immortal Gu in my mind.»
Now the Land Spirit was dead, and the Blessed Land was on the verge of collapse. Leaks were everywhere. With no great power suppressing them, the Gu Masters could freely activate their Gu insects.
This meant that Fang Yuan could make all of his Gu explode with just a flicker of a thought. Bai Ning Bing, Tie Ruo Nan, and the others wouldn't have time to stop him.
«Tie Ruo Nan, Tie Mu Bai and the others died at my hands. You can only atone for your crimes by taking this Immortal Gu back. Otherwise, you'll be stripped of your position as Young Miss, right?» Fang Yuan said with a sinister smile.
Tie Ruo Nan's expression was blank, but her reply was quite open and honest: «That's right. The Immortal Gu is one of a kind, of utmost importance. Taking it back would be a world-shaking achievement. I might even receive the guidance and rewards of the clan's Gu Immortal. As for the secret recipe to refine the Immortal Gu, you are the only one who knows it now. If I can present that, I will immediately become the young clan leader of the Tie clan.»
«In the future, when I ascend to the position of Clan Leader, I will surely emulate Lord Tie Mu Bai and promote justice and righteousness. After everything that has happened, I have completely understood: wanting to uphold justice without strong personal strength and faction power is absolutely impossible! Only in this way can I repay Lord Tie Mu Bai's kindness in nurturing me, and let him rest in peace in the afterlife.»
Saying this, Tie Ruo Nan thought of the Tie clan members who had died tragically at Fang Yuan's hands, and her eyes turned red. She felt both hatred and anger, and the excited relief of achieving vengeance.
She took a deep breath and stared intently at Fang Yuan. «As for you, Gu Yue Fang Yuan. I truly won't kill you. You managed to refine an Immortal Gu with merely a mortal body. Such talent in Gu refinement really commands a new level of respect. As long as you surrender, I will have you escorted to the Tie clan's Demon Suppression Tower for reform. In the future, if you repent and change your ways, leave the tower to serve the Tie clan and contribute to the righteous path, that will be the best way to atone for your sins.»
«Demon Suppression Tower…» Fang Yuan narrowed his eyes. «You say it so prettily! Hehehe. You want the Immortal Gu? Fine, why don't we make a deal?»
Fang Yuan spoke the terms of the deal as he quietly listened to the commotion outside the hall.
He was stalling for time.
The situation before him seemed like a desperate dead end, but in reality, there was still a chance of victory.
Fang Yuan was mentally and physically exhausted from refining the Gu. His true essence in his aperture was insufficient. The rank four All-Out Effort Gu hadn't been successfully refined, and many beast shadows had been consumed in the refining process.
A direct confrontation wasn't possible; Fang Yuan wasn't in his best condition. Meanwhile, Bai Ning Bing and Tie Ruo Nan had come prepared. Furthermore, outside were the Four Elders of the Tie clan, and Tie Bai Qi controlling the dog horde.
The Spring Autumn Cicada was indeed a good method to turn things around, but the risks afterward were enormous, including the danger of death. Fang Yuan didn't want to use it unless it was absolutely necessary.
«The real turning point still lies with the heroes outside the hall. Just relying on the dog horde and the Four Elders of the Tie clan can't keep them blocked outside forever. As soon as they attack and break in, the situation will take a completely different turn.»
Fate was truly fickle. Not long ago, Fang Yuan was doing everything he could to stop the heroes, but now he desperately wished for them to be fierce and effective, to immediately charge into the great hall.
...
«Damn it, Tie clan, so you were the mastermind behind the scenes!»
«The old clan leader Tie Mu Bai came in person. What attracted him? We should have thought of it sooner…»
«Even if the Tie clan is a super clan, they can't hog the entire Immortal Treasure. Everyone gets a share!»
The mood of the crowd was enflamed on the tragic battlefield.
Many Gu Masters glared at the direction of the bronze hall, fury burning in their eyes.
A purple light barrier enshrouded the entire bronze hall. The Four Elders of the Tie clan occupied four positions, guarding it strictly.
Meanwhile, Tie Bai Qi stood at the entrance of the hall, looking down and commanding the dog horde.
He was an old man with white hair and a third eye on his forehead, glinting with sharp light. He was a rank five Beast Path Gu Master, an elder of the Tie clan, and had once been Tie Mu Bai's right-hand man. Upon receiving Tie Mu Bai's summons, he broke out of his seclusion and traveled a great distance to reach Three Forks Mountain.
At this moment, Tie Bai Qi smiled slightly, overlooking the battlefield.
Under his command, the dog horde erupted with several times their original combat power. Tie Bai Qi didn't care about the losses, temporarily blocking all the heroes.
«Old bastard, you're really a tough nut to crack.» Mo Wu Tian's black hair danced wildly as he gasped for breath.
Before him, the Canine Emperor Ba Huang was already drenched in blood, in a worse state than Mo Wu Tian. But soon, the healing Gu on its body began to activate. Under a milky white glow, Ba Huang's injuries rapidly recovered.
Mo Wu Tian was about to press his advantage, but a large pack of Qinghua Dogs charged at him from the side.
«This again!» Mo Wu Tian ground his teeth, having to wipe out this wave of reinforcements first.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Ba Huang caught its breath, its injuries mostly healed, and it became ferocious once more.
Compared to Bai Ning Bing, who couldn't spare any attention on the Canine Emperor once he dispatched it, Tie Bai Qi was much more at ease. He commanded the entire field, controlling the overall flow of the battle, fully utilizing the advantages of the Beast Path.
On the other side, Xiao Mang was also receiving Tie Bai Qi's special attention.
«This won't do. The Immortal Treasure is going to be taken by the Tie clan!» Xiao Mang was both furious and anxious, but the Canine Emperor Ying Ming stood firmly in his way, preventing him from charging into the hall.
«Bastard, you leave me no choice!» Xiao Mang roared in rage, flying up into the sky.
The sky had already been torn open into a large hole, dozens of acres in size. Outside the hole was the sky of the outside world – floating clouds drifting, a clear day.
Xiao Mang flew directly out of the hole, raising both hands high.
Rank 4, Light Gathering Gu.
A massive amount of sunlight gathered into his two palms. The light accumulated into a sphere, colossal and immense. In comparison, Xiao Mang was like an ant holding a bowl.
Rank 5, Great Light Gu.