Time flowed onward as Zheng Shanchuan finally reached the last few steps. The nascent form of the Gu Insect within the flames was growing clearer and clearer.
As a precaution, he glanced at Fang Yuan once more and saw that his opponent had just finished that same step, fusing and integrating six types of materials into one.
At this point, Zheng Shanchuan couldn't help but admire Fang Yuan's composure. "What a pity—this victory will be mine in the end. The Green Luminance Gu, I'm taking it!!"
Confidence blazed in Zheng Shanchuan's eyes. But the very instant he withdrew his gaze, Fang Yuan suddenly burst into laughter. "Hahaha, Zheng Shanchuan, you've lost! Behold my Refinement Path killer move!"
"What?!" Zheng Shanchuan's heart lurched, and he hastily turned his eyes back to Fang Yuan.
He watched as Fang Yuan produced a Gu Insect and crushed it right before his eyes.
In a single instant, Zheng Shanchuan's pupils shrank to the size of needlepoints, and he nearly leapt to his feet.
He bellowed at Fang Yuan in shocked fury, "You! You actually crushed the Green Luminance Gu!!"
The words had barely left his mouth when the fireball in his hands destabilized, reaching its critical threshold—and then violently exploded.
The explosion's force wasn't tremendous, but afterward, soot and ash had painted Zheng Shanchuan's once handsome face pitch-black, like a lump of coal. He looked utterly wretched.
Zheng Shanchuan stood frozen on the spot, like a stone statue.
This shocking reversal had happened in the blink of an eye!
The crowd outside the formation held their breaths for several moments before reacting. All at once, a massive uproar erupted, voices crashing over one another.
"What a ruthless Demonic Path Gu Master!"
"He actually crushed the Green Luminance Gu on the spot, causing Zheng Shanchuan to lose his composure and fail the refinement—so close yet so far!"
"This Fang Yuan's cunning runs far too deep. He flipped the entire situation around in an instant. Now Zheng Shanchuan has failed and must start the refinement all over again. And Fang Yuan's lead is simply too vast. Even if Zheng Shanchuan repeated the exact refinement process he just did, he'd never catch up."
"Even more critical—he only crushed one of his own Gu. There's no way to judge it as deliberate interference against his opponent!"
"This is terrible. Terrible! Who could have imagined he would do such a thing—it actually worked out like this!" Old Man Qishan panicked as well.
The blow to Zheng Shanchuan had been too immense and far too sudden. It took a long time before he pulled himself together.
By the time he recovered his composure and started the Gu refinement anew, Fang Yuan had already entered his final steps.
There was no longer any suspense in this contest. It ended with Fang Yuan's victory.
"Brilliant, absolutely brilliant." The spectators, detached from the affair, offered their excited evaluations.
"Youth was Zheng Shanchuan's undoing. He's just thrown his entire life away. Sigh..." Some sighed on his behalf.
Of course, there were also those who were delighted—for instance, An Han. But as the Grand Offering Master of a righteous sect, he could only gloat inwardly. Outwardly, he wore an expression of sighing sympathy, lamenting Zheng Shanchuan's plight.
The contest had ended. Fang Yuan slowly rose to his feet. Zheng Shanchuan, however, stared blankly at the quietly burning flame in his hands.
He had lost!
His entire life—his brilliant future—everything wagered and lost to a mysterious Demonic Path Gu Master in a single contest.
How had it come to this? What should he do?
In that moment, Zheng Shanchuan felt his future shrouded in utter darkness, lost in complete bewilderment.
"Senior, please show mercy! My master and disciple were blind and failed to recognize your greatness. We offended you, Senior. Please, be magnanimous and remember that my little disciple is still young—spare him. This old man is willing to take his place. I'm also willing to offer up my entire savings in exchange for his freedom. I beg you, Senior, be compassionate. Please, show mercy, show mercy!"
Old Man Qishan suddenly dropped to his knees before Fang Yuan and began kowtowing without cease.
The old man's head struck the floor tiles with loud, thudding sounds, and before long, blood streamed down his face.
"Master! Master!" Zheng Shanchuan snapped out of his daze and rushed over, trying to help Old Man Qishan to his feet.
But Old Man Qishan was utterly obstinate at that moment. He shoved his beloved disciple away with all his strength and kowtowed with every ounce of power remaining in his body, wailing and begging.
"Master..." Tears poured down Zheng Shanchuan's face. With a sharp crack, he dropped to his knees as well—but facing his master instead.
No bystander could watch without being moved.
The master of Flying Frost Hall wore an expression of sympathy and distress.
An Han sneered coldly to himself.
But the contest's outcome was already sealed. Under the gaze of so many, how could reversal be permitted? Unless Fang Yuan chose to let them go—but Fang Yuan was a ruthless Demonic Path Gu cultivator. Besides, Zheng Shanchuan was so young yet already possessed the attainment of a Refinement Path Grandmaster. How could Fang Yuan possibly spare him?
Even among the Righteous Path Gu Masters, if they put themselves in his shoes, not one would have let Zheng Shanchuan off the hook.
The brutal and cruel face of the Gu Refinement Assembly had been suddenly revealed before everyone's eyes.
But in the very next moment, Fang Yuan spoke to Old Man Qishan: "Letting him go isn't out of the question."
An Han's cold smirk froze. The entire arena fell silent.
"What?" Zheng Shanchuan stared, dazed.
Old Man Qishan was the first to react, overwhelmed with joy. "Thank you, Senior, for your magnanimity! Thank you, Senior, for your boundless tolerance!"