Xue Songzi's expression changed, his gaze burning with both jealousy and envy.
He himself had spent who knew how much effort and scheming just to seize a single Wooden Rooster Immortal Gu, and in the end, he had ended up with nothing.
Yet this mere immortal zombie before him actually possessed Immortal Gu that even normal Gu Immortals didn't have—and two of them, no less!
"Heh heh heh, Hei Cheng, Xue Songzi, let's call it a day for now. Enjoy the rest of your lives, because your time is running short." Fang Yuan's tone was bone-chilling.
He stepped onto Flying Wave, and at the same time, brilliant green radiance bloomed from his body once more.
After three breaths, Fixed Travel carried him again, crossing boundless space as he broke free from the battlefield entirely.
Two dark arrows arrived just barely in time, only piercing a wisp of green light lingering in the air.
"No! They got away!" Xue Songzi's face was utterly ugly as he demanded of Hei Cheng, "Aren't you a Seventh Transformation Gu Immortal? Why couldn't you keep them here?!"
"Xue Songzi, watch your tone." Hei Cheng was expressionless, giving Xue Songzi a cold look.
Xue Songzi was suppressed by Hei Cheng's aura and the expression on his face softened somewhat.
Hei Cheng spoke slowly: "The other side has two movement Immortal Gu. Unless we possess Immortal Gu of our own that can seal off the battlefield, we can only let them escape. However, the tracking method I planted on Hei Loulan is extraordinarily well-hidden—it is the peak of mortal-killer moves. As long as she appears in the Northern Plains again, I will certainly be able to detect her."
"Moreover, our trip this time was not without results. We have already scouted out the force backing Hei Loulan. Without others' help, she could never have gone this far. It's just that I didn't expect an immortal zombie carrying two great Immortal Gu to appear. It seems the forces behind Hei Loulan are no simple matter. Heh, things are getting more and more interesting."
As he finished speaking, a trace of a smile curved at the corner of Hei Cheng's mouth, showing not the slightest hint of frustration.
His reason for not acting against Hei Loulan sooner was partly out of concern that she might self-detonate, and partly because he wanted to draw out the mysterious person behind her.
"You mean...?" Xue Songzi's gaze sharpened.
"Immortal zombies are typically Gu Immortals who, unable to extend their lifespan, were forced into the transformation. Do you think this immortal zombie is the real person behind Hei Loulan?" Hei Cheng asked meaningfully.
Fang Yuan hadn't confronted them head-on—while dodging the dark arrows, he had only displayed the attainment of a flight master. But such skill was hardly rare or unusual among Gu Immortals who typically lived for several hundred years.
Therefore, neither Hei Cheng nor Xue Songzi knew Fang Yuan's true combat strength. Hei Cheng hadn't given him any serious consideration, treating him as nothing more than an ordinary immortal zombie.
Xue Songzi's eyes flickered a few times. "I understand what you mean. This immortal zombie isn't the key figure. The two great movement Immortal Gu in his possession were very likely lent to him by someone else."
Hei Cheng nodded. "Correct. This mysterious person behind the scenes is very likely someone we know. Since they deliberately sent only a strange immortal zombie to carry out the rescue, then they must have reasons that prevent them from acting personally."
"Since this mysterious person hasn't revealed the slightest flaw, then how are we supposed to investigate?" Xue Songzi felt a headache coming on. Enemies hidden in the dark were the most troublesome—making him feel restricted and unsure whom to trust, whom to deal with.
"They've already revealed a flaw." Hei Cheng laughed heartily. "Whether it's Fixed Travel or Wandering the World, both are related to the Central Continent. Such an obvious clue is more than enough for us to dig up a great deal. Once I uncover the mysterious person who wishes me harm—that will be when I sweep them all up in one net!"
As he finished, a hint of ferocity appeared on Hei Cheng's face.
Fixed Travel carried Fang Yuan back to Lü Shan Fairy.
"Little Lan, how are your injuries?" Seeing Hei Loulan, drenched in blood, emerge from Fang Yuan's blessed land, Lü Shan Fairy looked very worried and hurried over to examine her carefully.
"Auntie, it's nothing serious. That old ghost didn't really strike hard—he was just bluffing," Hei Loulan said with a laugh, as if she weren't the one who was injured.
Lü Shan Fairy felt relieved and let out a breath. "It seems your guess was correct, Little Lan. That old ghost really did plant a tracking method on you. The method is extremely well-hidden—we checked five or six times before and never found it."
Upon hearing this, Fang Yuan's gaze turned cold as he fixed Hei Loulan with a hard stare. "So you're saying that being discovered by Hei Cheng this time was intentional?"
"Not exactly intentional." Hei Loulan looked directly into Fang Yuan's eyes, not dodging or avoiding his gaze. "Before this, Auntie gathered crucial intelligence about Ma Hongyun's whereabouts. Ma Hongyun was captured by the Northern Plains Gu Immortal Qin Baisheng, and Qin Baisheng's blessed land is located in the Crimson Reed Marsh. I went this time to secretly infiltrate the blessed land and find out what was going on. I didn't expect Hei Cheng to also be nearby—the moment I stepped into the Crimson Reed Marsh, he discovered me."