Hearing Feng Jiuge's words, Qin Baisheng laughed out of fury, "I, Qin, have roamed freely for several hundred years. I defeated Liu Hao, Chanyu Xiong, and Nu'er Du, killed White Silkworm Child, Jade Fire Farmer, and Heavenly Emotion Mountain Lord, fought Yuan Rangzun to a draw, and escaped with my life from the hands of the Five Elements Master. In the vast Northern Plains, only five Eighth Transformation Gu Immortals can surpass me. But killing me? That's no easy thing. Among Seventh Transformation Gu Immortals, those who can match me can be counted on one hand. You are also a Seventh Transformation Gu Immortal — and you want to defeat me with a single move? Hahaha!"
Qin Baisheng laughed heartily, his laughter brimming with supreme confidence in his own strength.
Feng Jiuge's words were indeed far too arrogant. For a moment, even the surrounding Central Continent Gu Immortals couldn't help but grow worried.
But Feng Jiuge merely smiled faintly, continuing to speak at his own leisurely pace: "Since childhood, I have loved music. At the very beginning of my cultivation, I made a grand vow — to compose nine songs, singing of myself, of all living beings, and of heaven and earth. To this day, I have created six in total. If you can listen to this one song, I will admit defeat and let you leave freely."
Qin Baisheng's laughter gradually subsided as he gazed at Feng Jiuge with a solemn, unblinking stare.
Looking at Feng Jiuge's serious expression and gentle smile, a surge of intense threat welled up in Qin Baisheng's heart.
He considered for a moment, then bowed solemnly to Feng Jiuge: "May I ask your honorable name?"
Feng Jiuge returned the courtesy with easy grace: "I am Feng Jiuge."
Qin Baisheng's expression shifted: "So you're the foremost among the Ten Great Ancient Sects of Central Continent — no wonder. Hahaha! Then come! Let me see what you're made of!"
Feng Jiuge's legendary reputation was something even Qin Baisheng, a Northern Plains Gu Immortal, had long heard of. His name rang like thunder.
However, upon learning that his opponent was Feng Jiuge, an infinite fighting spirit surged within Qin Baisheng — we are both Seventh Transformation Gu Immortals, so what gives you the right to defeat the Gu Immortals of the Ten Great Ancient Sects? Called the foremost? I'll be the one to weigh your true worth!
Feng Jiuge drew a deep breath and spoke slowly: "This song is called the Jade Song. Please listen."
The other Central Continent Gu Immortals all retreated, clearing a wide space.
"Come." Qin Baisheng gave a soft shout, his gaze sharp as lightning. Fighting spirit surged forth, his heroic air reaching the clouds.
……
Great Snow Mountain Blessed Land.
Third Peak.
"This time, I truly have you both to thank. If Old Ancestor Snow Beard had discovered us, I'm afraid even I couldn't have protected little Lan's life." Inside a secret chamber, Fairy Li Shan expressed her deepest gratitude to Fang Yuan and Tai Bai Yun Sheng.
Hei Loulan was the key figure in the collapse of the True Yang Building — more important even than Ma Hongyun and Zhao Lianyun. If her identity were discovered, it would inevitably trigger a coordinated hunt by the Gu Immortal world.
"This was indeed dangerous. We had been speculating about the reason for your absence from the auction, Fairy." Tai Bai Yun Sheng said with deep feeling.
Once Hei Loulan was discovered, it would inevitably drag Fang Yuan and Tai Bai Yun Sheng into the open. The three of them were tied to the same rope.
"Sigh!" Fairy Li Shan sighed. "I never expected that dreams could become a catastrophe as well. Do you two have any way to wake little Lan?"
Tai Bai Yun Sheng slowly shook his head and looked toward Fang Yuan beside him.
Fang Yuan said in a deep voice: "Difficult. The dream calamity's primary target is Hei Loulan. You, Fairy Li Shan, were merely caught up innocently because you came into contact with her. So all I needed to do was wound you to shock you awake. But Hei Loulan is deeply trapped within the dream. Even killing her wouldn't wake her."
A glimmer of hope appeared in Fairy Li Shan's eyes: "If you only say 'difficult,' then it's not a hopeless situation. It seems you have a way, Fang Yuan!"
Fang Yuan chuckled: "You could say Hei Loulan is lucky. I obtained a Gu at the auction that can be combined into a dream-path killing move to solve this problem. However, to combine a killing move, having the core Immortal Gu alone isn't enough — numerous mortal Gu are needed as support."
Fairy Li Shan was overjoyed and hastily said: "I can help with this! Whatever materials you need to refine Gu, Fang Yuan, just tell me, and I will do everything in my power to meet your requirements!"
But Fang Yuan shook his head: "These dream-path mortal Gu require materials found within dreams themselves. Refining dream Gu differs from other paths — the entire process must be carried out by me personally."
"So the dream path has such requirements." Fairy Li Shan blinked — this was the first time she had heard this.
Dream-path Gu insects differed from Gu of other paths in many ways.
One key distinction was that the refining materials were not physical substances from reality, but rather sourced from within dreams.
And these dreams could not be those of others — they had to be one's own.
Only by sourcing materials from within one's own dreams could one possibly refine dream-path Gu insects.
Fang Yuan possessed memories from his previous life. Even though his progress in the dream path had been slow and his achievements limited in that life, he was still aware of such basic knowledge.