The sky was pale gold, the earth looked like spring: green terraced fields, quietly flowing rivers, gentle hills — the vista was vast and open.
This was a peaceful and serene world, a stark contrast to the wind and snow outside.
This was the Northern Plains' greatest sanctuary — the Royal Court Blessed Land, opened once every ten years specifically to reward the king of the Northern Plains.
Fang Yuan looked around and found that he was alone.
Although everyone had entered through the same gate, at the moment of crossing, they had been scattered and randomly teleported to any corner of the Blessed Land.
This was standard procedure, and Fang Yuan was not surprised. According to the prior agreement, he was to head to the center of the Blessed Land. There lay the former residence of Giant Sun Immortal Venerable — the Northern Plains Sacred Palace!
"I finally made it in." Fang Yuan adjusted his breathing. The Imperial Court Contest was just the prelude; the real focus was yet to come.
He tried to activate the Eagle Soaring Gu, and as he willed, the Crystal Violet True Essence flowed like an obedient arm into the Eagle Soaring Gu.
Swoosh.
With a soft sound accompanied by sharp pain, two large black eagle wings, spanning over three zhang, grew from his back.
Within the Royal Court Blessed Land, the use of mortal Gu was not forbidden. As for immortal Gu, no Blessed Land could restrain them.
The powerful eagle wings gave a light flap and carried Fang Yuan into the sky.
Flying in the air, a gentle breeze met him, carrying the unique fragrance that permeated the entire Blessed Land.
Compared to the outside Northern Plains, this place was peaceful and serene, truly a paradise.
Fang Yuan was in no hurry; he flew leisurely, enjoying the scenery.
The topography of the Royal Court Blessed Land was very similar to that of the Northern Plains: as far as the eye could see, there were plains. Even the hills had gentle slopes, with soft and graceful lines, like untempered green flowing freely and smoothly.
But unlike the Northern Plains, every eight li a watchtower stood erected on the land.
These watchtowers reminded Fang Yuan of totem poles. Each was eight zhang high, standing straight, covered in gold and silver, adorned with various gems and agates, exquisitely crafted.
Inside, the tower was divided into countless compartments like a honeycomb. Inside lived individual Gu worms.
When, among the swarms of insects in the Blessed Land, a Gu emerged, these Gu would usually leave the swarm to live in the towers.
The towers were arranged by Giant Sun so that no matter what Gu, it could find its own food inside.
Each tower held tens of thousands of Gu. These Gu included many types: common ones in huge numbers, and rare ones in smaller quantities.
Without a doubt, every tower was a massive fortune; even Fang Yuan's eyes grew greedy. He even spotted a group of over a thousand Star Firefly Gu in one of the towers!
"What a pity these Gu cannot be taken without permission. At the start of the Imperial Court Contest, many daring Gu Masters tried to steal them, even attacking the towers to seize the wild Gu inside. But the result? Like candles, their entire flesh would melt away, leaving only pale white skeletons that shattered upon hitting the ground." Fang Yuan's gaze grew solemn.
This was the power of the Blessed Land, the power of this realm.
No mortal could defy it.
Even Gu Immortals would be disheveled and miserable.
The lesson was profound enough; by now, no Gu Master had any designs on those towers.
"If we trace the origins, the Gu Immortal who created the Royal Court Blessed Land was a Space Path Gu Immortal, whose name is no longer known. Therefore, this Blessed Land is extremely vast, far surpassing other Blessed Lands of its kind. When Giant Sun Immortal Venerable was not yet an immortal, he luckily inherited this place and became its new master. After Giant Sun became an Immortal Venerable, wielding supreme power, he set up great schemes, established the tradition of the Imperial Court Contest, and enabled this ancient Blessed Land to endure until today."
Fang Yuan recalled these things as he flew.
The means of the Immortal Venerable were beyond his understanding. He didn't know how Giant Sun Immortal Venerable had done it, but in any case, under his manipulation, the Royal Court Blessed Land no longer suffered the torment of Heavenly Tribulations and Earthly Disasters.
Hiss hiss hiss...
After about half an hour of flight, passing countless towers, above a small valley, Fang Yuan was provoked by a massive python.
This scarlet python was enormous, at least thirty zhang long, its snake body as thick as a watchtower.
On its head grew a single sharp horn, and a pair of blood-red eyes stared fixedly at Fang Yuan in midair as it continuously flicked its forked tongue.
Its tongue was a strange purple, entwined with blue flames.
"Oh? It's actually a rare Dark Fire Dragon Python." Fang Yuan was slightly stunned.
At that moment, the python suddenly opened its gaping maw and spat out a ball of blue-violet flame the size of a carriage.
The flame flew swiftly, and the air temperature soared; even hundreds of paces away, Fang Yuan's hair and eyebrows showed signs of withering. This showed how terrifying the temperature of the blue-violet flame was!
Fang Yuan lightly raised an eyebrow; with a flap of his eagle wings, he sharply ascended, easily dodging the flame.
Killing move — Four-Armed Wind King!
He simultaneously activated over a dozen Gu, and the Crystal Violet True Essence in his aperture began to drain violently. At his sides, two brand-new bronze arms emerged.
Then, like a falling star, he dove savagely down.
Boom!
He crashed heavily into the Dark Fire Dragon Python and engaged it in fierce combat.
In an instant, dust flew, flames burst in all directions, and the valley shook.
The Dark Fire Dragon Python was a beast king; beast kings were on par with fourth-rank combat power, but their kings could rival fifth-rank Gu Masters. However, Fang Yuan had long been at peak fifth-rank, and after using his killing move, his combat strength was even higher.
If the Dark Fire Dragon Python had just lain low, Fang Yuan, focused on traveling, might not have noticed it. But its active provocation sparked his interest, and he used it to test his improved killing move.
A quarter of an hour later, the dust settled.
Fang Yuan, covered in soot, stood in the valley that was nearly unrecognizable and completely collapsed.
The shattered rocks covered most of the Dark Fire Dragon Python's body.